Gaza War Officially Ends: Ceasefire and Reconstruction Plan Begin
Upcoming, Free to Join, Online Events
14 October 2025 @ 1:00-4:30 p.m. (GMT+2), Bruegel, Belgium
China Horizons: EU policy Takeaways from China’s politics, economy, foreign policy, society and EU-China dynamics
At a timely juncture in EU-China relations, the China Horizons project closed with a synthesis of three years' research on the politics, economy, foreign policy, and society in China. Experienced experts commented on the economic course of China, the process of political decision-making, and the direction of foreign policy in China, examining social topics mirrored in the media and in art. The gathering sought to put these research findings into practice with actual policy lessons for Europe in its growingly complicated geopolitical and economic relationship with China. For more information and registration, visit [Bruegel].
15 October 2025 @ 8:30-10:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Stimson Center, USA
Getting Ahead of the Storm: Improving Forecasting and Disaster Governance Amid Monsoonal Volatility in Nepal
After another late-monsoon deluge which resulted in more than 50 fatalities and severe flooding, the event convenes Nepalese disaster managers and government specialists with the view to discuss how better forecasting, coordination, and communication lessened effects despite political unrest. Speakers shall discuss Nepal's dynamic systems for disaster risk management with the focus on recent mobilisations' lessons, improving forecasts, and adaptive mechanisms for handling monsoonal uncertainty, lack of available data, and resource scarcity in the face of increased climatic uncertainty in the Himalayas. For more information and registration, visit [Stimson Center].
15 October 2025 @ 1:00-2:15 p.m. (GMT-4), Center for a New American Security (CNAS), USA
Countering China’s Digital Silk Road
On October 15th, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a webinar on Countering China's Digital Silk Road in celebration of the initiative's 10th anniversary. CNAS Senior Fellow Vivek Chilukuri was joined in a fireside chat with former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, after which an expert panel discussed the DSR's transformation, the expanding technology influence from Beijing through bilateral agreements and exports, and U.S. and allied efforts in countering China's growing domination in the world market in digital and emerging technologies. For more information and registration, visit [CNAS].
15 October 2025 @ 1:00-2:00 p.m. (GMT+2), Bruegel, Belgium
How to accelerate investment in sovereign AI computing infrastructure, models and services in the EU?
This event looked at the EU's rapidly but unevenly adopted uptake in artificial intelligence in the wake of the Draghi report's major call for investment in AI infrastructure. Speakers canvassed hardware and investment bottlenecks, balancing training and inference capacity, and the appropriateness of government intervention. With market-leading businesses such as Nvidia, Mistral, and Accenture leading brisk commercial take-up, the session considered whether the new regulations in the EU facilitate and inhibit innovation and what can be learned from top European AI businesses. For more information and registration, visit [Bruegel].
15 October 2025 @ 5:00-6:00 p.m. (GMT+2), The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Sweden
Governing the Peace and Security Risks of AI Agent Interactions
SIPRI organised a public webinar exploring the peace and security concerns arising from new AI agents autonomous systems that can operate independently and in coordination with other AIs. Based on a new SIPRI Essay, experts debated the possible advantages, such as speeding up research, and the risks, including unforeseen behaviour, susceptibility to attack, and malign use. The panel discussed how agentic AI can transform the global security landscape and which immediate governance action is required in order to secure responsible use even before the risks get out of hand. For more information and registration, visit [SIPRI].
16 October 2025 @ 9:45-10:45 a.m. (GMT+1), Chatham House, United Kingdom
From chips to China–US tensions: How can Taiwan and Europe work together to manage shared challenges?
This meeting discussed the intensifying economic and political collaboration between Europe and Taiwan, foreshadowed in TSMC's $11 billion chip plant in Dresden and expanding high-technology investments across the continent. Despite having no official diplomacy, Taiwan is quickly becoming Europe's key partner in technology and trade. The expert roundtable discussed the ways in which the two sides can increase collaboration, balance strategic dependencies, and tackle common challenges while maintaining the balance in relations with Beijing amidst the intensifying U.S.–China geopolitical competition. For more information and registration, visit [Chatham House].
20 October 2025 @ 4:00-5:30 p.m. (GMT-4), Hoover Institution, USA
Contested Taiwan: Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Party Formations
Sponsored by the Hoover Institution's Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region, this book talk featured Lev Nachman from National Taiwan University in discussion of his recent book Contested Taiwan: Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Party Formations. The event discussed how Taiwan's unconcerted sovereignty shapes its post-Sunflower Movement politics and how party formation is driven by conflict over identity and geography. Based on 150 interviews and comparisons with Ukraine, Nachman argues that social and activist–party conflict generated through threats to existence compel social movements towards institutional politics in contested states. For more information and registration, visit [Hoover Institution].
21 October 2025 @ 10:00-11.30 a.m. (GMT+8), ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore
Lawful but Awful: Evolving Legislative Responses Against Informational Disorder in the Era of Generative AI
This online panel will explore the growing economic and political ties between Taiwan and Europe, highlighted by major investments such as TSMC’s USD 11 billion chip plant in Dresden and expanding high-tech cooperation across the continent. Amid intensifying U.S.–China rivalry, the discussion will examine how Europe and Taiwan can strengthen engagement while managing pressures from Beijing, and what lessons they can draw from each other to navigate shared strategic challenges. For more information and registration, visit [ISEAS].
21 October 2025 @ 2:00-3:00 p.m. (GMT+1), Chatham House, United Kingdom
The Western Balkans and the European Union: A path to membership?
This online panel will examine how the long-promised EU accession of the Western Balkans can be realized amid mounting political and geopolitical challenges. Despite two decades of reform efforts, progress toward membership remains uneven as concerns over governance, corruption, and rule of law persist. Against the backdrop of enlargement fatigue and growing Russian influence, speakers will discuss the state of EU–Western Balkans relations, assess the political will for expansion, and consider whether alternative models of regional integration may emerge. For more information and registration, visit [Chatham House].
21 October 2025 @ 8:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council, USA
ROK-US Alliance Trans-Atlantic-Pacific Security Forum
On October 21, the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) at the Atlantic Council, in collaboration with the Korea Foundation, organized the ROK–US Alliance Trans-Atlantic-Pacific Security Forum. The forum brought together experts in a bid to examine the potential role the Republic of Korea–United States alliance can play in countering shared security challenges connecting the Indo-Pacific and Europe. The speakers took into account convergent and divergent strategic priorities, new alliance management practices, and new mechanisms for expanding multilateral and trans-regional security partnerships.. For more information and registration, please see [Atlantic Council].
Recent and Upcoming Book Releases
Alexander C. Karp, Nicholas W. Zamiska, The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West, Crown Currency, 320 pages, published February 18, 2025. For a review, see [The Independent Review].
Honghong Tinn, Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan’s Computing Industry, The MIT Pres, 448 pages, published January 7, 2025. For a review, see [Taipei Times].
Sudhir Hazareesingh, Daring to Be Free: Rebellion and Resistance of the Enslaved in the Atlantic World, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 464 pages, to be published December 2, 2025. For a review, see [The New Statesman].
🌍 Top Stories of the Week 8/10-15/10
8 October
🇷🇺 Russian drones are testing NATO. So far it violated airspace of Lithuania, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Czechia. Producing 1.4 million drones a year. [Source]
🇮🇳 🇷🇺 India starts paying for Russian oil in Chinese yuan. [Source]
9 October
🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Trump announces Ceasefire Deal between Israel and Gaza. [Source]
A 20 point peace deal, outlining the transition from ceasefire, military withdrawal, hostage and prisoner release, troop deployment (to monitor ceasefire agreements), aid delivery increases, re-development of Gaza.
Ceasefire will take effect only when both parties agree.
🇷🇺 Russia’s war economy stalls. [Source]
Big companies in railways, cars, metals, coal, diamonds, and cement are cutting jobs or putting workers on leave because exports have fallen and local demand is weak.
10 October
🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Ceasefire now IN EFFECT. Now IDF will move back to new lines in Gaza and 72 hours for hostage and prisoners swap. [Source]
What will happen next?
In line with Trump’s 20 point peace plan, the next main goals consist of, stabilisation (peaceful transition from war to governance), governance (of a ‘technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee operating under an international board with Trump as the head), demilitarisation, and economic reform. [Source]
🇻🇪 Maria Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her contribution to Venezuelan democracy. [Source]
🇮🇳 🇦🇫 The Taliban leader visited India. Here’s why it’s important: [Source]
Relations improving. Enemy’s Enemy is Friend ! 🇵🇰
Unconfirmed reports says Pakistan bombed Kabul. No casualties.
But neither country confirmed it.
🇺🇦 🇺🇸 Zelenskyy: “If Trump gives us Tomahawks, we’ll lobby for Nobel Peace Prize”. [Source]
🇹🇼 🇺🇸 Taiwan’s president says Trump deserves the Nobel Prize if he deters China from using force. [Source]
🇶🇦 🇺🇸 Qatar pushes U.S - Venezuela diplomacy as Trump focuses on military action. [Source]
🇺🇸 🇪🇸 Trump floats dropping Spain from NATO alliance. Mostly due to the inability to meet 5% NATO defence spending. [Source]
11 October
🇵🇸 🇮🇱 Gazans are returning to North Gaza and IDF is moving back to Israel. The plan is still in effect. [Source]
🇨🇳 🇦🇺 China is tightening control of rare earth metals. Australia seeks to gain from this. [Source]
🇺🇸 🇨🇳 Trump announced a 100% tariff on China. [Source]
12 October
🇰🇵 Kim Jong Un unveils ‘the most powerful nuke’ system easily capable of hitting all US mainland. [Source]
🇵🇰🇦🇫 Pakistan-Taliban tensions escalating. Taliban claim clashes in 7 border areas. Coincidence after their visit with India? [Source]
Arab states expanded cooperation with Israeli military leaked files show. [Source]
13 October
🇵🇸 🇮🇱 Gaza War is officially over Israel released all 1,966 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas released all 20 Israeli hostages. Gaza lies in ruins: 67,000+ killed, 200,000 injured, 90% displaced, 92% of homes destroyed, and $55 billion estimated in damage. [Source]
14 October
🇮🇳 India’s retail inflation slows to eight-year low in September, leaving room for rate cut. [Source]
🇮🇱 Israel says it opens fire on suspects in Gaza, local authorities report six killed. [Source]
15 October
