Hello and welcome back. 

This week, the G7 prepares a coordinated response to China’s tightening of critical mineral exports, Xi tightens his grip as Beijing purges senior generals, and Hemedti threatens regional airports following RSF drone strikes on Khartoum.

Our lead story turns to Tokyo, where Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, seeks to revive the Shinzo Abe doctrine.

This, and more, below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇻🇪 U.S. expands South America military strikes to the Pacific:  The U.S. military has carried out its first airstrikes on boats in the Pacific waters off South America. The strikes mark an expansion of previous U.S. attacks that had been concentrated off Venezuela’s coast, drawing sharp criticism from rights groups and regional governments.

2️⃣ 🇧🇪 🇪🇺 EU delays decision on using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence: European leaders once again postponed a decision on whether to channel frozen Russian assets toward Ukraine’s war effort, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appeal to act swiftly and make Moscow pay for its aggression.

3️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇭🇹 U.N. Security Council pressures Haiti to hold elections as violence spirals: UNSC members warned that Haiti’s transitional government is running out of time to restore order and hold elections before its February 2026 mandate expires. Despite technical preparations for the country’s first vote in nearly a decade, gang violence continues to engulf much of Port-au-Prince, with over 2,000 victims recorded between June and August.

4️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇮🇱 ICJ rules Israel’s UNRWA ban and aid blockade violate international law: The court found Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure Palestinians receive essential supplies, rejecting arguments by Israel and the United States that security justifies suspending humanitarian access. The ICJ ordered Israel to facilitate UN-led relief efforts “by all means at its disposal,” including those by UNRWA, and reaffirmed that such obligations are unconditional.

5️⃣ 🇵🇪 State of emergency declared in Peru: Interim President José Jeri has declared a 30-day state of emergency across Lima and Callao following weeks of anti-government protests over corruption and spiralling crime. The decree authorises army deployment and suspends certain civil liberties, including freedom of assembly.

Major Story

🇯🇵 SANAE TAKAICHI SEEKS TO REVIVE THE SHINZO ABE DOCTRINE

Japan has elected its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, following a 21 October parliamentary vote. A self-declared successor to Shinzo Abe’s assertive diplomacy, Takaichi inherits a fractured Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and a volatile political landscape. Her ascent follows the collapse of the LDP’s 26-year coalition with Komeito, whose pacifist leanings clashed with Takaichi’s hawkish views on defence and constitutional reform.

Komeito’s withdrawal stemmed partly from corruption scandals under the Kishida administration, which damaged its electoral base. But more fundamentally, the party’s leadership concluded that it could not support an LDP led by a prime minister intent on expanding Japan’s military posture. The shift reflects Japan’s changing electorate: older generations remain wedded to post-war pacifism, while younger voters—troubled by China’s rise, North Korea’s missile tests, and the war in Ukraine—favour a stronger security policy.

New coalition and policy direction

Takaichi’s new partner, the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), offers limited stability but aligns closely with her agenda. Ishin’s libertarian platform—calling for administrative reform, decentralisation, and a leaner government—complements the LDP’s broader vision while removing Komeito’s pacifist constraints. Together, the two parties are expected to pursue a more assertive regional policy, including moves to formalise the Self-Defense Forces as a national military.

Challenges abroad

Takaichi’s foreign policy will test Japan’s diplomatic finesse. She must balance deterrence against China and North Korea, maintain improving relations with South Korea, and manage a complex relationship with President Donald Trump’s administration. While Takaichi seeks to revive Abe’s strategic legacy, her success will hinge on reconciling nationalist impulses with Japan’s fragile regional diplomacy and dependence on U.S. security guarantees.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇮🇪 Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidency in historic landslide: Independent socialist Catherine Connolly achieved a record-breaking victory in Ireland’s presidential election, winning 63.4% of the vote and dealing a stunning defeat to the country’s centrist governing parties. The Galway lawmaker pledged to champion inclusivity and confront the far right’s anti-immigrant rhetoric.

2️⃣ 🇸🇩 Hemedti threatens regional airports after RSF drone strike on Khartoum: Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) has warned that any airport aiding the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) will be treated as a “legitimate target,” including those in neighbouring countries. His remarks followed RSF drone strikes on Khartoum International Airport, disrupting government plans to reopen the facility.

3️⃣ 🇨🇳 Xi consolidates control as top Chinese generals expelled in latest corruption purge: China has expelled two of its highest-ranking generals along with seven other senior officers from the CCP and the PLA, in what officials described as a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown. The Defence Ministry accused the officers of “serious duty-related crimes involving vast sums of money,” calling the purge a major step in cleansing the military.

4️⃣ 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 Myanmar junta raids major cybercrime hub near Thai border: Myanmar’s army has stormed the KK Park compound near the Thai border, detaining over 2,000 people and seizing 30 Starlink terminals in one of its largest crackdowns on online fraud and illegal gambling. The operation follows growing international pressure after the U.S. and U.K. sanctioned regional scam networks linked to human trafficking and online fraud.

5️⃣ 🇦🇷 🇺🇸 Trump approves $20bn swap deal to bolster Argentina’s faltering economy: Argentina has sealed a $20 billion currency swap agreement with the US, part of a broader financial lifeline orchestrated by President Trump to stabilise the country’s volatile economy ahead of its midterms. Trump has warned that US support would be withdrawn if Milei lost the upcoming election.

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Tips & Suggestions

Before we see you next Sunday:

We welcome your news tips and suggestions for regular sections, just let us know the stories you want to see covered here: [email protected]

Book Shelf

Here are some books we recommend 📚:

Prisoners of Geography

The Revenge of Geography

The World: A Brief Introduction

The Shock Doctrine

Sea Power

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics

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