Latest news for 31 October 2025

SOUTH KOREA

It’s a wrap.

This year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is set to conclude on Saturday, with mixed reports on whether the bloc’s 21 members can still agree on a joint statement. The summit has largely been overshadowed by yesterday’s Xi-Trump chat, which produced more of a trade truce than any definitive deal. (DW)

Comment: Xi Jinping’s efforts to position himself as Asia’s reliable trade partner will have enjoyed a symbolic boost by President Trump’s early departure. Xi meets Korea’s Lee and Japan’s Takaichi later today (Friday).

SAUDI ARABIA

Davos in the desert.

The Saudis just wrapped their annual flagship Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Riyadh Ritz Carlton (the same hotel where the crown prince famously imprisoned his rivals during his big purge from 2017). (Bloomberg $)

Comment: In amongst the rooftop parties, desert compound soirees, and Wall St mixers, the two FII messages this year were i) any Saudi pariah status is long gone — attendees included the heads of Goldman, JP Morgan, Snap, Dow, Delta, Siemens et al, and that was the dream audience for… ii) Syria’s al-Sharaa, who reiterated his pleas (with the Saudi crown prince in the front row) that Syria is open for business.

AFGHANISTAN

We still good?

After their Istanbul talks collapsed on Wednesday, Pakistan and Afghanistan have now agreed to extend their ceasefire for another week. While ironing out details on how to monitor any peace, the core sticking point is still the Taliban’s denial that it’s harbouring TTP Islamists who’ve resumed attacks on Pakistan lately. (Al Jazeera)

KENYA

Partner up.

The French ambassador to Nairobi has signed a landmark defence cooperation pact with Kenya’s defence ministry. (Government of Kenya)

Comment: Why? The Kenyans want help countering Al-Shabaab next door in Somalia, a goal they share with France, which is itself trying to a) rebuild its shrinking presence elsewhere on the continent, b) protect its presence in the Indian Ocean, and c) boost arms sales.

UNITED STATES

A new record?

The senate has now adjourned as the US government shutdown enters its 31st day. The lawmakers will return on Monday, just a day before the shutdown equals the 2018-19 all-time record of 35 days. (CBS)

Comment: The fact this isn’t completely dominating headlines like last time is a pretty good indicator of how much more volatile our world has become since 2019.

CUBA

In times like these.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed DC is prepared to send humanitarian aid to Cuba after Hurricane Melissa, in a slight departure from traditionally frosty US-Cuba ties. (Politico)

Comment: We looked at the geopolitics of Hurricane Melissa earlier this week, and wondered how this might shape the immediate US disaster response. It comes the same week the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed its annual non-binding resolution calling on the US to ease its restrictions on Cuba. Interestingly, the US attempted a full-court-press against that resolution this year, slightly shaving support from 187 to 165 countries.

TANZANIA

Election curfew.

Authorities have imposed a curfew in the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam amid violent protests, as Samia Suluhu Hassan cruises to re-election. (France24)

Comment: It helps that her rival is in jail on spurious treason charges — even her own party’s ex-spokesperson (and former ambassador to Cuba) is now missing after criticising her.