Latest news for 10 September 2025

NEPAL

Protests escalate.

The Nepalese army has imposed a country-wide curfew after youth-led anti-corruption protests triggered the PM’s resignation, followed by the burning of parliament and even politicians’ houses. (Al Jazeera)

EUROPEAN UNION

We’ll think about it.

No word from Brussels yet, after President Trump reportedly pushed the EU to hit China and India with 100% tariffs over their Russian oil-buying spree — Trump apparently offered to mirror any EU move. (CNBC)

Comment: It’s hard to see the EU agreeing given the scale of its trade with China and India, plus the way Europeans have focussed on India as part of their broader diversification strategy. But if this idea goes nowhere, it’ll (again) raise questions around how serious Europe is — let alone Trump — about ending Putin’s war.

FRANCE

Promotion.

President Macron has appointed his armed forces minister and close political ally, Sébastien Lecornu, as France’s third prime minister in a year. (Euractiv)

Comment: It suggests Macron hopes a) Lecornu can succeed where others failed (cobbling together enough of a majority to survive), or more probably… b) even another short-lived PM is better than ceding more ground to populists at another snap election.

PHILIPPINES

Cut us a deal?

Manila has halted its $5.6B purchase of US F-16 fighter jets, with its ambassador to the US blaming budget constraints. (Straits Times)

Comment: Ambassador Romualdez was probably also too diplomatic to note the Philippines just signed a $700M deal to buy 12 jets from fellow US ally, South Korea.

MEXICO

Tragedy.

A freight train operated by a major Canadian rail firm has crashed into a double-decker bus at a crossing outside Mexico City, leaving at least ten dead. Investigations are underway, though the rail operator has urged local drivers to respect railroad stop signs. (BBC)

IRAQ

Freed.

An Iran-based group in Iraq has finally released Princeton PhD student and Israeli-Russian researcher, Elizabeth Tsurkov, two years after they kidnapped her in Baghdad. (Al-Monitor)

Comment: President Trump tweeted the news, adding to a recent string of hostage releases under his administration. It’s unclear what (if anything) the group might’ve got in return.

INDIA

Whatever it takes.

New Delhi is reportedly asking state-owned and private miners to explore sourcing rare-earths from rebel-controlled parts of Myanmar, to dilute India’s dependence on regional rival China. (Straits Times)