Latest news for 8 October 2025

ECUADOR

Assassination attempt?

Authorities have arrested five people after an alleged assassination attempt on President Noboa — officials say they found bullet damage after hundreds of protestors surrounded and threw rocks at the president’s vehicle. (France24)

Comment: Noboa has had to declare emergency measures to maintain order in some provinces after he ended costly diesel subsidies last month.

EUROPEAN UNION

Steel yourselves.

Brussels has unveiled plans to curb the bloc’s tariff-free steel imports in an effort to shield domestic producers, though local automakers argue it’ll just further increase costs for the already embattled sector. (Reuters)

Comment: Germany’s Merz will hold a summit with automakers next week, where he’ll get an earful. What were we saying about European leaders and October again?

TURKMENISTAN

For sale.

Hungary (one of Russia’s last remaining EU customers) is in talks to start importing natural gas from Turkmenistan. (Times of Central Asia)

Comment: Viktor Orbán has long doubled-down on his right to buy as much cheap Russian energy as he wants. This pivot away likely reflects a) Ukraine blowing up Russia’s relevant oil supply pipeline, b) recent pressure from Trump 2.0, and c) the risk of entering a big 2026 election year with energy prices spiking. As for Turkmenistan, it’s a way to diversify away from China, which buys ~90% of its gas.

GERMANY

She’s back.

Former leader Angela Merkel has ruffled feathers from Poland to Palanga this week after seemingly implying the Poles and Baltics share part of the blame for Russia invading Ukraine (by blocking direct, last-minute talks with Putin). (Politico EU)

Comment: Many now blame Merkel’s conciliatory approach to Putin — including entrenching an energy dependency — for emboldening Putin’s imperialist land-grab.

MALAYSIA

Nice try.

Prime Minister Anwar has issued a stern warning to his own tourism minister after officials served alcohol at a government event. He wasn’t buying their justification that the booze only came out after the event wrapped. (The Straits Times)

PERU

Calling Lima out.

The Andean Community (a bloc including Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia) has given Lima a formal slap on the wrist for failing to curb illegal gold mining and mercury trafficking, following local complaints of rivers being poisoned. They want an update from Peru within 20 days. (AP)

MADAGASCAR

New PM.

President Rajoelina has appointed an army general as his new prime minister, amid escalating Gen Z–led protests against corruption and beyond. (BBC)

Comment: He says the general is needed to restore order, but it smells much more like an attempt to secure military backing amid coup fears.