Latest news for 15 October 2025

ISRAEL

Ceasefire wobble?

Hamas has returned another four of the 28 deceased hostages it promised, after Israel announced it would curb aid until they’re all home. Hamas, which is accusing Israel of breaching the ceasefire via shootings and drone strikes, has previously flagged it might not be able to locate all hostage bodies (20 are still missing). (The Guardian)

Comment: Separately, Israel just lost its FIFA World Cup men’s qualifier against Italy, meaning soccer’s governing body (and its 2026 hosts in Canada, Mexico, and the US) avoid the boycott debate this time around.

NETHERLANDS

Dutch courage.

It turns out The Hague’s seizure of local China-owned chipmaker Nexperia came after DC warned it’d extend US export controls to the Dutch subsidiary unless they ousted the firm’s Chinese CEO. (FT $)

Comment: And… why would the US want this particular CEO gone? The most credible speculation we’ve seen is he was trying to pull a classic asset strip, shifting anything of value to a new shell company in hopes of evading US controls and routing chip production to China, instead of (say) Europe’s automakers. There are reports Dutch employees gave authorities a heads-up.

CHINA

You shall not pass.

China’s major airlines are urging the Trump administration to drop its planned ban on flying to the US over Russia, warning it’d increase travel times and costs. (CNA)

Comment: You might wonder why this ban is only happening now, more than three years into Putin’s war. It’s partly an attempt to level the playing field, as Putin’s early ban on Western airline overflight gave a massive advantage to China’s carriers. It also comes as US-China trade ties hit more turbulence, with both sides looking for leverage.

EU

Back on track?

The IMF has raised its 2025 eurozone growth forecast to 1.2%, citing Germany’s massive spending boost and resilient demand in Spain. But the DC-based body is warning that uncertainty still threatens Europe's economic outlook. (Euractiv)

AUSTRALIA

Pay the piper.

Australia will soon cough up its second of three $1B payments to support US submarine production via the AUKUS pact, that’ll involve (among other things) the first-ever foreign purchase of three US nuclear-powered Virginia subs. (Reuters)

Comment: Earlier Aussie fears around the Trump 2.0 future of the AUKUS pact seem to have subsided, though the Pentagon’s review is still underway. Prime Minister Albanese is due to meet Trump in DC next week — the PM faced domestic criticism for taking so long to meet his US counterpart, though this was probably a calculated move to avoid getting caught in Trump’s crossfire.

UNITED STATES

On the dotted line.

Adding to the slew of recent freedom-of-speech headlines, rival outlets from NYT and CNN to Fox and Newsmax are joining forces against new Pentagon guidelines that limit journalists to only cover explicitly authorised info, or lose their Pentagon press credentials. (Washington Post)

Comment: Only one outlet (the right-leaning One America News) signed the new arrangement before yesterday’s deadline. Defence Secretary Hegseth isn’t budging for now, so there’s a chance it’ll end up becoming a First Amendment lawsuit.

NIGERIA

School’s out!

Lecturers at Nigeria’s public universities are on strike just weeks into the new academic year, accusing the government of failing to improve pay and conditions. The sector’s last major strike (in 2022) lasted eight months! (BBC)