Friday, 31 October 2025

UN warns of civilian fight for survival in Ukraine: civilian casualties are up 30% since last year. A third of all recorded civilian deaths and injuries in 2025 were caused by drone attacks. Front-line areas see over 57,000 evacuees seeking aid. UN's winter response plan is only 50% funded (LINK) 31 October 2025

U.S. poised to strike military targets in Venezuela in escalation against Maduro regime — sources (LINK) 31 October 2025

UN Security Council approves resolution backing Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara, in a major shift (LINK) — ground.news: 64 media reports (LINK) 31 October 2025

— Morocco considers the territory its own, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks to establish an independent state called the Sahrawi Republic

UN human rights chief says US strikes on alleged drug boats are 'unacceptable' (LINK) 31 October 2025

Caribbean nations receive life-saving support from UN following devastation of Hurricane Melissa (LINK) 31 October 2025

— In Jamaica, the World Food Programme (WFP) has assisted the Government with logistics, communications, and cash-based support, delivering 5,000 food kits — enough to feed 15,000 people for a week. Meanwhile, from its Regional Strategic Stockpile in Panama, PAHO has dispatched 2.6 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba.

19 fatalities in Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa, death toll expected to rise (LINK) 31 October 2025

How climate change fuelled Hurricane Melissa — and why it's going to get worse (LINK) 31 October 2025

Disney contributes $1 million for Hurricane Melissa relief in Jamaica (LINK) 31 October 2025

Tunisia sentences vocal critic of president to five years in jail (LINK) — ground.news: 9 media reports (LINK) 31 October 2025

The chief of staff to President Javier Milei of Argentina has resigned, less than a week after the governing party won a new mandate to accelerate his program of radical reform in pivotal midterm elections: resigned so that Milei "may face without constraints the stage of government that begins after the national elections" (LINK) — ground.news: 45 media reports (LINK) 31 October 2025

Republican leaders reject Trump's demands to scrap the Senate filibuster to end the shutdown (LINK) 31 October 2025

Two judges rule Trump admin must keep SNAP benefits in place as shutdown drags on (LINK) 31 October 2025

U.S. offered Hamas militants safe passage out of Israel-controlled Gaza zone: No Hamas militants had actually crossed over as of Thursday night, according to a senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officer (LINK) 31 October 2025

JPMorgan Chase alerted Trump admin to over $1B in 'suspicious' transactions involving Epstein and prominent Wall Street figures in 2019: concerns they could potentially be related to human trafficking operations (LINK) 31 October 2025

Thursday, 30 October 2025

Trump cuts fentanyl tariffs on China to 10%, lowers tariffs to 47%, says U.S. has reached rare earths deal with Beijing (LINK) — ground.news: 166 media reports (LINK) 30 October 2025

Trump administration limits refugee admissions to 7,500 mostly white South Africans (LINK) 30 October 2025

India gets six-month waiver on U.S. sanctions against Iran's Chabahar, aiding trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia: supplies to Afghanistan, especially essential items like food grains and medical products, can still be sent through Chabahar (LINK) 30 October 2025

Guinea-Bissau arrests senior army officers for alleged coup attempt (LINK) — ground.news: 19 media reports (LINK) 30 October 2025

How Jamaica took out an insurance policy for itself, and why it's about to pay off after Hurricane Melissa (LINK) 30 October 2025

U.K.: Andrew stripped of Prince title and will move out of Royal Lodge (LINK) 30 October 2025

King Charles exiles ex-Prince Andrew to royals' bleakest and most haunted home: Sandringham in Norfolk, 3 hours from London (LINK) 30 October 2025

Five new suspects arrested over Louvre robbery, French radio reports (LINK) 30 October 2025

UN climate fund posts record year with $3.26 billion in greenlighted projects as chief Mafalda Duarte defends loans (LINK) 30 October 2025

— Her goals include cutting project review times from two years to nine months, and reducing the time to accredit partner institutions, like national agencies and banks, from three years to nine months. When it does give loans, the GCF prides itself on "concessionality," meaning very low interest rates -- far better deals than middle income countries with poor investment ratings could hope to get on the commercial market. It argues that grants, which account for around 45 percent of its outlay, cannot achieve the scale of financing required to deliver the Paris accord goal of limiting warming to 1.5C.

Where should you live if world chaos breaks out? Switzerland (LINK) 30 October 2025

— After Switzerland comes Denmark and Norway. After Singapore, from fifth place onwards are Sweden, Luxembourg, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Iceland. The United States is 24th, France 29th, Italy is 36th, just ahead of China (37th), Russia is 69th, and India is only 104th: climate risk weighs heavily here.

Feds charge 14 cops, including 2 sheriffs, in Mississippi drug sting for assisting traffickers (LINK) 30 October 2025

Wednesday, 29 October 2025

UN condemns US embargo on Cuba for a 33rd year, but Washington's stand draws bit more support (LINK) 29 October 2025

— AP: The vote was 165-7, with 12 abstentions. Last year, it was 187-2, with votes against from the United States and Israel and one abstention. This year, countries including Argentina, Ukraine and Hungary also opposed the measure. Such resolutions are not legally binding but reflect world opinion.

Guardian: Israel strikes Gaza again killing at least 2 after overnight bombardment that killed some 104: gravest challenge yet to the increasingly fragile US-brokered ceasefire (LINK) 29 October 2025

Israel says ceasefire back on after strikes kill more than 100 in Gaza (LINK) 29 October 2025

— President Donald Trump voiced support for Israel's actions after the U.S. ally carried out strikes across the enclave and traded accusations of truce violations with Hamas.

Trump says nuclear weapons testing to resume in US after more than 30 years (LINK) 29 October 2025

Putin boasts of nuclear-driven torpedo that would swamp cities with radioactive tsunami (LINK) 29 October 2025

Scores of people have been killed in attacks by the Sudan Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their recent capture of the city of el-Fasher in western Darfur region in battle against military, according to a medical group and researchers. (LINK) 29 October 2025

Indonesia investigates more free meal poisoning cases in Yogyakarta province, after 700 students fall ill, official says (LINK) — ground.news: 8 media reports (LINK) 29 October 2025

Western intelligence says Iran is rearming despite UN sanctions, with China's help (LINK) 29 October 2025

US says it kills four "terrorists" in latest strike on alleged drug vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, days after confirming it had killed 14 people in three strikes on vessels in the area (LINK) 29 October 2025

— "This vessel, like all the others, was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics," U.S. Secretary Pete Hegseth said, posting aerial footage of the strike.

State of the Climate 2025: Earth's vital signs worsen, but science shows options for a livable future (LINK) 29 October 2025

— 22 of the planet's 34 vital signs are at record levels, with many of them continuing to trend sharply in the wrong direction. The authors note that 2024 was the hottest year on record and likely the hottest in at least the last 125,000 years. "Climate mitigation strategies are available, cost-effective and urgently needed, and we can still limit warming if we act boldly and quickly": renewable energy sources, protecting and restoring ecosystems, reducing food loss and waste.

White House to cover troop pay Friday by tapping multiple funding sources (LINK) 29 October 2025

National Guard troops were at Portland ICE building on 4 October despite court ban, feds admit (LINK) 29 October 2025

Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum dip post Fed's rate cut: what's next for crypto? (LINK) 29 October 2025

Russian oil tanker headed for India turns back under U.S. sanctions threat (LINK) 29 October 2025

Death toll in Brazilian police raid in Penha neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro rises to 119, drawing criticism of excessive force (LINK) — ground.news: 221 media reports (LINK) 29 October 2025

— State police said the raids targeting a major drug gang had been planned exhaustively for more than two months, designed to drive suspects into a forested hillside where a special operations unit was waiting in ambush. Rio police confirmed 119 deaths so far, including four officers. Public defenders said the final count would rise to at least 132.

Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza fully opens to the public: over 100,000 artifacts, including the treasures of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, are now on display (LINK) 29 October 2025

Earth's largest ocean current is showing signs of disruption—and scientists are worried (LINK) 29 October 2025

— It carries 182 million cubic meters of water every second and connects the planet's three major oceans. Today, scientists believe this invisible giant — the Antarctic Circumpolar Current — is changing. And that shift could disrupt global climate patterns and marine ecosystems.

Tuesday, 28 October 2025

'Change course now': humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head: 'Devastating consequences' now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30 (LINK) 28 October 2025

World's climate plans fall drastically short of action needed, analysis shows: Recent plans submitted to UN by more than 60 countries would cut carbon by only 10%, a sixth of what is needed (LINK) 28 October 2025

Climate change won't end civilization, says Bill Gates (LINK) 28 October 2025

— He argued that tackling global disease and poverty will help prepare the planet's poorest for a warming world. But he said that while climate change will have "serious" consequences, "people will be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future." Climate change will not end civilization, limiting temperature is not the best measure of progress, and health and prosperity are the strongest defenses against climate destabilization.

Elon Musk wants the world to know about "white genocide theory": in Grokipedia (LINK) 28 October 2025

White House fires commission charged with advising the president on design as Trump pushes construction projects (LINK) 28 October 2025

Nigerian Nobel winner Wole Soyinka announces Trump administration has stripped him of US visa (LINK) 28 October 2025

U.S. service members report major uncorrected pay discrepancies as shutdown continues (LINK) 28 October 2025

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says U.S. won't be able to pay military by Nov. 15 amid government shutdown — (LINK)

Guidelines made public today show Pentagon moved one day before the U.S. government shut down to fire civilian workers 'performing unsuccessfully' with 'speed and conviction' (LINK) 28 October 2025

Trump refuses to rule out third term as he signs rare earths deal with Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi (LINK) 28 October 2025

China-ASEAN upgraded trade pact targets digital and green sectors amid US tensions (LINK) 28 October 2025

Stragglers from Myanmar scam center raided by army cross into Thailand as buildings are blown up (LINK) 28 October 2025

— The center is located on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a major trading town on the border across from the Thai town of Mae Sot. The Myawaddy area is only loosely under the control of Myanmar's military government, and shares power there with an allied local militia of the Karen ethnic minority operating as a Border Guard Force. he authorities in Thailand's Tak province, who have set up temporary shelters for the refugees, said they come from 28 countries, including Thailand.

Brazil: Over 100 killed in major Rio drugs raid (LINK) 28 October 2025

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claims ICE agents have immunity. Is that true? (LINK) 28 October 2025

Cato Institute: there's a right to record ICE raids — and there's no blanket immunity for raiders — (LINK)

Longtime talk show host and author Dr. Phil McGraw suffered a major setback related to the bankruptcy of his media company Merit Street Media (MSM) (LINK) 28 October 2025

— While Dr Phil's requested Chapter 11 bankruptcy would have allowed the company to reorganize and continue operations, the ordered Chapter 7 orocedure requires assets to be liquidated and the company to cease operations. Along with issuing the ruling, judge sharply criticized McGraw for his attempts to "game" the bankruptcy by paying certain favuored creditors over others and for deleting allegedly incriminating text messages.

Prince Andrew hosted Epstein, Maxwell and Weinstein at Royal Lodge in 2006 as part of his daughter Beatrice's 18th birthday celebrations (LINK) 28 October 2025

1.6 million people in the US illegally have self-deported, 500K deported: DHS (LINK) 28 October 2025

Iran's Ayandeh Bank collapse affects 42m, highlighting Bitcoin's role: absorbed by state-owned Bank Melli (LINK) 28 October 2025

— The Central Bank of Iran has moved the bank's operations to the state-owned Bank Melli. Ayandeh Bank opened in 2012 and soon grew across Iran. It had over 270 branches. However, the bank made risky loans and invested a lot in big projects. Many of these projects failed. Reports show that over 90% of Ayandeh Bank¡¯s money went to related parties or projects that were not repaid.

Will Iran's Sarmayeh Bank meet the same fate as bankrupt Ayandeh Bank? Corruption linked to Teachers' Reserve Fund raises concerns — (LINK)

Russian and Iranian shadow oil fleet's hidden ally was New Zealand insurer Maritime Mutual, supported by some of the world's largest reinsurers (LINK) 28 October 2025

Ukraine: Russian oil giant Lukoil to sell international assets in response to Trump sanctions (LINK) 28 October 2025

How Elon Musk's Grokipedia compares to Wikipedia (LINK) 28 October 2025

Grokipedia pushes far-right talking points: falsely claims that pornography worsened the AIDS epidemic and that social media may be fueling a rise in transgender people — (LINK)

Monday, 27 October 2025

Russian army committing murder in Ukraine: Independent rights commission (LINK) 27 October 2025

— Drones operated by Russian forces have repeatedly attacked Ukrainian civilians, causing deaths, injuries and large-scale destruction, independent UN human rights investigators said.The Russian military’s actions amount to two crimes against humanity, the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine's report states — firstly of "murder and of forcible transfer of population" and secondly, "deportations and transfers of civilians" from areas occupied by Russian forces, some of whom were tortured.

Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin that the US "has a nuclear submarine off your shore" as he condemned a Russian cruise missile test as "inappropriate" (LINK) 27 October 2025

— Putin said Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, a nuclear-capable weapon Moscow says can pierce any defence shield, in a move that has infuriated Washington. Moscow said the Burevestnik had flown for 14,000km.

US military strikes 4 boats in the Pacific, killing 14, in ramp-up of campaign against alleged drug trafficking (LINK) 27 October 2025

— It marked the first time multiple strikes were conducted on the same day.

Statue of Confederate general Albert Pike toppled by protestors in 2020 is returned to its DC perch after Trump's order (LINK) 27 October 2025

— The bronze statue of Pike was the sole outdoor statue of a Confederate military leader in the nation's capital. It had been yanked to the ground with ropes and chains and set on fire on Juneteenth 2020, as nationwide protests erupted following the death of [George] Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man killed in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck.