UN Peacekeeping
United Nations officials announced that the UN will reduce its peacekeeping force by a quarter worldwide due to budget concerns. Funding from the United States remains uncertain, and if the UN is forced to cut its peacekeeping force by a quarter, there will be security ramifications for the various countries in which the UN operates.
Gaza
An uneasy ceasefire may be approaching for Gaza. Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for a cessation of fighting and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The latest, though, is that Israel is saying there can be no ceasefire until the cabinet approves of it, and Hamas is saying that no hostages will be released until Israel begins to withdraw.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is accusing Eritrea of preparing for war as Ethiopia is attempting to regain access to the Red Sea. Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos claims that Eritrea and a hard faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) were “funding, mobilizing and directing armed groups” in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where militiamen known as Fano have been battling the Ethiopian government.
China
China today formalised export controls on rare earths, as well as lithium batteries and some forms of graphite – all essential components of the global technology supply chain, which China dominates. Foreign companies now need the Chinese government’s approval to export products with even small amounts of rare earths and must explain their intended use. Beijing stated that the regulations are designed to “safeguard national security.” One of the primary targets of these controls appears to be overseas defence manufacturers, including those in the US, who rely on rare earths from China.
UK-India
The United Kingdom has signed a $468 million arms deal with India to supply lightweight multi-role missiles. The deal will secure 700 jobs in Belfast as the air defence missiles and their launchers are already being produced there by the Thales factory for Ukraine.
Russia-Ukraine
Russian strikes on Ukrainian gas production facilities beginning on October 3 have destroyed nearly 60 percent of Ukraine’s gas production ahead of winter. Ukraine will have to import these gas supplies from Europe. If the tempo of Russian strikes continues, Ukrainian officials estimate that they will need to import approximately 4.4 billion cubic meters more gas before March, or a fifth of the country’s annual consumption, at a cost of around $2.2 billion.
Social Media Wires
An interesting Russian technical
Russian news talking of how some regions may not get fuel
Feature Photo: “International Peacekeepers Day, MONUSCO” – Wikimedia Commons, 2025
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