Latest news for 5 September 2025

FRANCE

Collecting signatures.

President Macron says 26 countries are now ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal to end Russia’s war. Details remain scant, but the guarantees appear to be a mix of deploying peacekeepers, offering training, sending military aid, and providing logistical support. (Politico)

Comment: This Europe-led ‘coalition of the willing’ is finally clarifying what exactly it might be willing to do, so it now goes to the US for clarification around its proposed ‘backstop role’ in all this (all we know is the White House is ruling out sending troops).

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Look who’s here.

UN leader Antonio Guterres wraps his historic visit to Papua New Guinea today (Friday), the first-ever by a UN chief. He used his parliamentary address to a) praise PNG as champions of international solutions (particularly around climate), but also b) urged the nation to lift its game on women’s rights. (UN News)

IRAN

Not on the shopping list.

Ahead of this year’s UN General Assembly in New York, US officials are reportedly considering banning Iranian diplomats from visiting Costco and Sam’s Club while in town — a local fave for any sanctioned regime officials. (NBC)

CYPRUS

Tap the brakes.

Brussels has launched a probe into possible criminal offences around a proposed submarine electricity cable connecting the Israeli and Greek power grids via Cyprus. (Euractiv)

Comment: The project has already faced delays and financial hurdles, plus opposition from Turkey — the Turks say the project would impact their maritime zones, but we suspect Ankara’s opposition also stems from the way this project would circumvent Turkey’s usual energy hub role.

AUSTRALIA

You can’t stay.

Canberra has passed legislation allowing Australia to deport non-citizens with criminal convictions to third countries. It paves the way for Australia’s new 30-year deal with Nauru (pop 12,000), sending up to ~US$1.6B in cash for Nauru to host up to 350 deportees. (Straits Times)

Comment: There are rumours the US is working on something similar with Palau. Speaking of US deportations…

BOLIVIA

Be gone.

US authorities just deported Bolivia’s former interior minister Arturo Murillo, after he served four years for money laundering. He now faces further corruption and protester-death charges back home. (RegTechTimes)

MALI

Higher authority.

Mali has filed a case against neighbouring Algeria at the International Court of Justice for what it describes as “blatant aggression”. It relates to the shooting down of a Malian counter-terrorist drone back in April. (Reuters)

Comment: This is obviously about more than a drone — Mali accuses Algeria of quietly backing armed separatists, while the Algerians accuse Mali of failing to uphold a peace agreement with Tuareg rebels.