Geopolitics & Policy
Geopolitics & Policy news — Monday 12 October 2026
39 stories from 3 sources, every one in English. Each links to its publisher.
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Nato’s top commander says alliance does not want war but is ‘ready to fight tonight’
South China Morning Post Tech
Nato’s top military commander said the alliance is “ready to fight tonight” if it is attacked, as European officials warn Russia could test Nato’s defences with increased covert attacks or a limited military incursion. European nations…
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Philippine Lower House Passes Bill Restricting Social Media Access of Minors
If passed into law, the country will become the fourth in Southeast Asia to introduce youth social media restrictions of some kind.
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Breaking Bad actor and disability rights champion R.J. Mitte dies at 34
South China Morning Post Tech
Actor RJ Mitte, whose personal experience living with cerebral palsy informed his role as Walter White Jnr, the physically disabled son of a methamphetamine kingpin in the landmark television series Breaking Bad, died on Monday at age 34…
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2 dead, 10 missing as hurricane and tropical storm hit Mexico
South China Morning Post Tech
Rains and flooding along Mexico’s Pacific Coast from Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel have left five people dead, authorities said Monday. The El Nino phenomenon, characterised by rising water temperatures in the Pacific, is…
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Canada’s PM Carney makes case for Canadian unity as Alberta referendum nears
South China Morning Post Tech
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday urged Alberta to remain in Canada, warning that a vote next week on whether to hold a referendum on leaving Canada would begin a “long and uncertain process” at a dangerous time for the…
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Catholics in US Army must not take part in firing squad, armed forces archbishop says
South China Morning Post Tech
Catholics serving in the US Army should not take part in the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan that the Pentagon is planning to live stream on December 3, a prominent US archbishop said on Monday. In an unusually…
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Hellboy actress Selma Blair arrested for allegedly injuring 2 flight attendants
South China Morning Post Tech
Actress Selma Blair was arrested after she was accused of injuring two flight attendants on a trip from Los Angeles to New York. She was also accused of kicking a police officer taking her to the hospital and kicking a nurse once she got…
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Wolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in Australia
Beijing’s diplomatic officials are adopting the language of the Albanese government to press their demands upon local governments and communities.
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Ukraine’s EU accession bid advances after Kyiv passes minority rights law
South China Morning Post Tech
The European Union will on Tuesday open new negotiation chapters with Ukraine, an essential step in Kyiv’s long path to join the bloc. Ukrainian lawmakers on Monday passed legislation protecting the rights of national minorities, which…
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UK PM Burnham says Iran’s IRGC ‘highly likely’ to have been behind RAF Fairford incident
South China Morning Post Tech
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that a suspected plot targeting the RAF Fairford airbase in Britain was “highly likely” to have been coordinated in Iran, and almost certainly directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard…
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Elon Musk becomes biggest known donor in midterm elections in bid to save Republicans
South China Morning Post Tech
Elon Musk, the world’s only trillionaire, has quietly become the biggest known donor in this year’s midterm elections, doling out more than US$276 million since July to try to save Republican majorities in Congress. The numbers, first…
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US federal agents search Democrat Ilhan Omar’s home as part of a criminal investigation
South China Morning Post Tech
Federal agents on Monday searched the home of Democratic US congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a startling escalation in a criminal investigation that brings renewed focus to the frequent target of Trump administration derision in the final weeks…
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Israel pupil, 15, killed, over 20 hurt, after suspected leftover bomb detonates
South China Morning Post Tech
An Israeli teenager was killed and more than 20 other people injured Monday by a suspected leftover Hezbollah bomb as they hiked near the Lebanese border, officials said. The Israeli military, which dispatched helicopters to the scene…
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French police detain pupil, 14, suspected of shooting principal and teacher
South China Morning Post Tech
A 14-year-old boy opened fire with a hunting gun at a school in France on Monday, wounding the headmaster and a teacher before being disarmed by a member of staff, local authorities said. The shooting took place at Joseph-Lakanal middle…
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What the US and China Should Discuss at APEC
Both sides are feeding an AI investment bubble – and Shenzhen is the place to talk about it.
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France supermarkets say cyberattack forced defrosting of refrigerators in over 200 stores
South China Morning Post Tech
Hackers raised the temperature of refrigerators and freezers at hundreds of French supermarkets to as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) overnight, causing fires and spoiling food. The Paris prosecutor’s office said on Monday that…
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The Mystery of Kyrgyzstan’s Newly Launched Satellite(s)
At first glance, the story of Kyrgyzstan’s satellite launch seemed like a genuine achievement. Then the story changed.
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Australia’s Billionaire Problem and the ‘Corruption of the Democratic Process’
Australia’s incoming political finance laws will cap donations and electioneering spending for the first time, but the limits are generous, the rules complex, and the two-year delay suspiciously convenient for the major parties.
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South Korea Recalls Ambassador, Demands Public Apology From Ukraine
A diplomatic rift is growing after a North Korean prisoner transfer that Kyiv revealed against Seoul’s wishes.
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The China-EU Trade Truce Buys Time
For the EU, the choice is increasingly difficult: secure real concessions from Beijing to address structural trade imbalances or deploy stronger unilateral measures to protect its industrial base.
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Manchester City scandal a test of Britain’s commitment to rule of law
South China Morning Post Tech
The visit by star-studded Manchester City, the most successful English football team of recent times, was a highlight of Hong Kong’s football festival this summer. Supporters, sporting the club’s colours, flocked to Kai Tak Stadium…
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Saudi Arabia faces more drone, missile attacks after Houthi’s fatal airport strikes
South China Morning Post Tech
Saudi Arabia said it was dealing with new drone and cruise missile attacks on Monday, posing fresh security threats to the kingdom following the weekend’s deadly strikes on Riyadh airport. “We have detected and are monitoring a threat…
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‘Inconvenient truth’: Man City case spotlights realities of UK-UAE ties
South China Morning Post Tech
When Liverpool fans greeted Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday with jeers and banners demanding the Abu Dhabi-owned football club be relegated, they took aim at what critics have long dubbed “sportswashing” – the practice of using…
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Southeast Asia Has a Serious Drug Problem
Southeast Asia’s drug labs are pumping out unprecedented amounts of meth and other synthetic drugs.
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China, EU take a breath after surprise deal brings temporary halt to trade tussle
South China Morning Post Tech
Weeks of high-wire negotiations between China and the EU culminated in a surprise trade deal that will, among other measures, impose strict quotas on Chinese hybrid car exports to the bloc and slash Chinese tariffs on a variety of European…
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UK comedian Russell Brand in London court for rape trial start
South China Morning Post Tech
Jury selection took place on Monday for the trial of British actor and comedian Russell Brand over alleged historical crimes including rape and other sexual offences. Brand, 51, once one of Britain’s most high-profile broadcasters and…
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Global diesel shortage: why Gulf refined fuel exports lag crude oil shipments
South China Morning Post Tech
Global diesel prices remain near record highs as Gulf producers struggle to restore refined-fuel exports, despite a recovery in crude shipments and pledges by more countries to release reserves. Net diesel exports from Gulf countries…
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How China and the EU pressed pause on trade war – and what it took to get there
South China Morning Post Tech
Weeks of high-wire negotiations between China and the EU culminated in a surprise trade deal that will, among other measures, impose strict quotas on Chinese hybrid car exports to the bloc and slash Chinese tariffs on a variety of European…
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US economists Robert Hall, Michael Woodford win 2026 Nobel economics prize
South China Morning Post Tech
American-born economists Robert Hall and Michael Woodford have won the 2026 Nobel economics prize for their work on how monetary and fiscal policy can help stabilise fluctuations in the economy. Hall, 83, is affiliated with Stanford…
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China-EU car deal eases trade tensions for now at least
South China Morning Post Tech
China agreed to cut millions of hybrid car exports to the European Union over the next four years, easing simmering trade tensions ahead of a key meeting of European leaders later this week. The deal will slow exports to half or less the…
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How China and America Can Move from Competition to Stability
War on the Rocks
The American team thought it was signaling restraint. The Chinese team saw preparations for combat. In a closed-door Sino-American crisis simulation I helped organize in the 2010s — which the U.S. military funded as part of a long-term…
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Will Indonesia’s New Foreign Minister Be Allowed to Do His Job?
Arrmanatha Nasir is highly qualified, but his success may hinge on whether or not he has access to President Prabowo Subianto.
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Trump’s China-savvy spokeswoman, Hong Kong trail emergencies: 5 weekend reads you missed
South China Morning Post Tech
We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump’s new spokeswoman is a ‘devoted…
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US Drops Sanctions on Daughter of Prominent Myanmar Businessman Thein Win Zaw
Is Theint Win Htet's removal from the Treasury Department's blacklist a sign of a looming rapprochement between Washington and Naypyidaw?
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Trump’s Targeting of Indian IT Firms Hits India-US Ties Again
Washington announced last week that it would not accept or process applications from top Indian IT companies for H-1B visas.
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To Rebuild the Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa Must First Reform It
Recently re-elected president of the Nepali Congress, Thapa vowed to end the culture of nepotism and groupism in the party and to open it to a new generation of leaders.
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Why Did the Industrial Revolution Not Start in India?
Due to abundant labor, its social structure, and the inertia of an economic system, there was little incentive to initiate mechanization and the Industrial Revolution in India.
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Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing to Visit Indonesia and Brunei, Regime Spokesperson Says
Since taking office in April, the former general has visited five ASEAN member states as he seeks normalization with the Southeast Asian bloc.
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At least 139 migrants dead, dozens missing after boat capsizes off Djibouti
South China Morning Post Tech
At least 139 migrants died, including 15 children, and 84 went missing when an overcrowded boat sank while heading from Djibouti to Yemen, a UN agency said on Sunday. The vessel was carrying 305 people, most of them Ethiopian, when it…