Trump, hailing a ‘new Middle East,’ avoids many of the hard questions ahead: WP reports in touting his Gaza ceasefire win, the president projected optimism for a wider peace while sidestepping the many obstacles that remain.
Will Donald Trump follow through on his plan for Gaza? Success of deal depends on president’s willingness to keep engaged and pressure warring parties, particularly Netanyahu. FT
‘A big day’: How the US and the Arab world teamed up to seal the Gaza deal: NYT reports the cease-fire talks in Egypt showed that with pressure on Hamas and Israel, seemingly huge impediments could be overcome or set aside.
Mr. Trump, on the Middle East, please move fast and break things Thomas L. Friedman
Hamas launches violent crackdown on rivals in Gaza: WSJ reports firefights and public executions have spread fear and raised concerns about a spiral of internecine violence. “I could hear gunfire all around.”
Hamas launches Gaza crackdown as Trump vows to disarm group: Le Monde reports Hamas published a video on its official channel showing the street execution of eight blindfolded, kneeling suspects, branding them 'collaborators and outlaws.' The footage, apparently from Monday evening, emerged as armed clashes were underway between Hamas's various security units and armed Palestinian clans in parts of the territory.
Trump says US will disarm Hamas if it does not do so itself: WP reports Hamas has not yet publicly agreed to or signed anything that specifies how it would disarm, but President Donald Trump suggested he had received verbal assurances the group would.
Trump vows to disarm Hamas as it executes enemies on Gaza streets: The Times reports dozens of suspected collaborators are killed by the militant group after Israeli forces withdraw.
Israel pressures Hamas to return bodies, but Gaza’s destruction poses challenge: NYT reports the Israeli government is considering limits on aid to Gaza to penalize Hamas for not turning over more bodies of former hostages. But devastation in the enclave complicates the retrieval of all remains.
Hamas releases bodies of four more hostages held in Gaza: WSJ reports the latest handover of hostages’ bodies comes as Israel and Hamas accuse each other of cease-fire violations.
AP: Israel says it has received the remains of 4 more deceased hostages as cuts to aid for Gaza loom
AP: Madagascar’s president is ousted in a military coup after weeks of youth-led protests
Madagascar army unit says it has taken power after weeks of protest: FT reports the announcement comes day after President Andry Rajoelina fled to a ‘secure location.’
Gen Z revolt fells another government: Madagascar's president is in hiding after the military sided with protesters frustrated at the dearth of opportunities on the island. WSJ
Donald Trump deserved the Nobel prize, says … Vladimir Putin: Politico reports the Russian president, who is wanted by the ICC, says the Nobel committee has “lost credibility.”
Russia blasts ‘freaks’ at Time magazine over cover that Trump hated: Politico reports: “Only unhealthy people” could have chosen the photo Time used, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova fumes.
Russia accuses Mikhail Khodorkovsky of plotting coup: FT reports Moscow’s intelligence service launches fresh criminal case against former Yukos oil magnate and 22 other dissidents in exile.
Under Russian drones, Ukrainians wonder if Europe still cares: Politico reports more than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s capital endures constant Russian attacks while watching European solidarity fray.
Trump hints that Tomahawks could bring Putin to heel: The Times reports the president has a new-found desire to establish peace after his success in the Middle East.
Trump says he may give Tomahawks to Ukraine. Is he bluffing? NYT reports President Trump’s threats to provide the missiles to Ukraine, whether he follows through on them or not, are a sign of his growing frustration with Moscow.
Ukraine’s most prestigious military units are run like businesses: Marketing and human-resources departments are key. Economist
Zelensky strips Odesa mayor of Ukrainian citizenship: Le Monde reports Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suspended mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov of his Ukrainian citizenship over allegations that he possessed a valid Russian passport. Trukhanov has denied the accusations.
How Brexit drained the Tories’ talent pool: The party can’t keep expecting successful people to pretend that leaving the EU was a good idea. Stephen Bush
Margaret Thatcher had two extramarital affairs, claims new book: The Times reports Tina Gaudoin claims in The Incidental Feminist that the former prime minister had two affairs: one early in her career as an MP and one with another politician.
French authorities fear mounting 'MAGA sphere' intrusions into domestic politics: Le Monde reports French diplomatic officials said they were prepared to be more 'direct' in their response to predicted acts of interference in favor of the far right, especially during election periods.
France's political crisis weakens French and European growth: Uncertainty stemming from political instability has cost France at least 0.2 percentage points of growth, according to its central bank. With economic stagnation in Germany and budget tensions in the UK, Europe's largest countries are in turmoil. Le Monde
How India tariffs hurt America’s China strategy: New Delhi can be a counterweight to Beijing’s economic and military bellicosity. WP-Editorial
Stabilizing the US-China rivalry: The geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China embodies risks of outright military conflict, economic warfare, and political subversion, as well as the danger that tensions between the world's two leading powers will destroy the potential for achieving a global consensus on such issues as climate and artificial intelligence. Moderating this rivalry therefore emerges as a critical goal, both for the United States and China and for the wider world. Rand
US-China déjà vu all over again: Trump’s latest piece of brinkmanship is likely to result in another climbdown. Edward Luce
Bloomberg: Xi’s rare earth ‘bazooka’ sparks global alarm, race for supplies
China, betting it can win a trade war, is playing hardball with Trump: Chinese leader Xi Jinping thinks the president will fold before launching new tariffs that would roil markets. WSJ
China tries shock-and-awe on Donald Trump: Xi Jinping’s bet that dramatic escalation is the way to win a trade war. Economist
China is going after American firms to hit back at Donald Trump: Its investigation of Qualcomm may be the latest example. Economist
Scott Bessent slams China: ‘They want to pull everybody else down with them’: FT reports US Treasury secretary tells FT that Beijing’s export controls are ‘a sign of how weak their economy is.’
Trump threatens to halt China cooking oil trade over soybean freeze: Nikkei reports US president accuses Beijing of 'economically hostile act' as tensions simmer.
Bloomberg: Trump threatens China cooking oil as payback for soy boycott
Chinese criminals made more than $1 billion from those annoying texts: WSJ reports messages seeking payment for unpaid tolls or postage fees prompt victims to hand over credit-card information, which gangs use to buy gift cards and luxury goods.
The US is racing to rebuild its submarine power before China catches up: Inside the effort to deliver a ‘transformational improvement’ in how the US builds submarines, vital to preserving its undersea advantage. Bloomberg
Ministers delay decision on Chinese super-embassy: The Times reports UK ministers will delay a decision over whether to approve a Chinese super-embassy in London amid a mounting backlash over the government’s ties to Beijing. Steve Reed, the communities secretary, is expected to announce that the decision, which was due next Tuesday, will be deferred until November.
Has Britain gone soft on China? A spying fiasco and a new London embassy feed accusations that Sir Keir is a Red softy. Economist
Dutch seizure of chipmaker followed US ultimatum over Chinese chief: Takeover of Nexperia plunges Netherlands into US-China tech war. FT
The world economy in an age of disorder: It is dangerous to have confidence in what lies ahead. Martin Wolf
Inmates make brazen escape in Guatemala: NYT reports: “I’m not going to deny the reality — there’s no good explanation,” the interior minister said of how the 20 inmates had slipped out, perhaps over a period of time.
Bloomberg: Trump says ‘we’re gone’ If Milei loses vote, rattling market
Trump says Argentina bailout depends on Milei’s party winning upcoming elections: WSJ reports the US recently said it purchased Argentine pesos and wrapped up the framework for a $20 billion currency swap with the cash-strapped country’s central bank.
Trump says US won’t benefit from $20 billion bailout for Argentina: WP reports the president explicitly conditioned the relief on the success in this month’s elections of the Argentine leader, who admires and emulates him.
Donald Trump says US support for Argentina is ‘gone’ if Javier Milei suffers election losses: FT reports US president suggests $20bn swap line is contingent on libertarian’s victory in midterm elections.
Bloomberg: Trump says he’d be ‘very upset’ by Chinese military in Argentina
+ President Donald Trump told Argentine President Javier Milei that any Chinese military activity in Argentina wouldn’t be received well in Washington.
+ Trump made the comments during a meeting at the White House where he also said Milei will need to perform well in the nationwide Oct 26 vote to receive a $20 billion currency swap line.
+ Trump's finance chief Scott Bessent clarified that the US financial lifeline to Argentina isn’t predicated on Milei’s government ending its $18 billion accord with China’s central bank.
US strikes another boat it says was trafficking drugs: WSJ reports six killed in the US military’s fifth reported strike on vessels allegedly engaged in smuggling illegal substances from Latin America.
US kills 6 alleged drug smugglers in new strike off Venezuela, Trump says: WP reports the president claimed the six men killed were “narcoterrorists” affiliated with what he said was a designated terrorist organization, though he did not identify the group.
Media including Fox News overwhelmingly reject Pentagon press policy: WP reports the network, generally supportive of the Trump administration, joined ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN in denouncing the Defense Department policy.
Pete Hegseth’s new Pentagon press policy is a miserable failure Nia Prater
Trump is (half) right about his hideous Time Magazine cover Margaret Hartmann
Trump’s ‘flood the zone’ strategy also involves a lot of mopping up: The president’s push to do everything at once has overwhelmed Democrats, the courts, the media—and the White House. Bloomberg
Both parties brace for a 'long conflict' as government shutdown hits two-week mark: NBC News reports for the eighth time, the Senate voted to reject the the House-passed stopgap funding bill amid the fifth-longest shutdown in US history.
NYT: Trump targets Democratic districts by halting billions during shutdown
ICE is cracking down on Chicago. Some Chicagoans are fighting back. NYT
State Department revokes visas over Charlie Kirk comments: WSJ reports the agency says the US ‘has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.’
‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat: Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery, and rape. Politico
Young Republican leaders are really racist in their group chats Matt Stieb
ME-SEN: Gov. Janet Mills (D) entered the Maine Senate race on Tuesday morning, giving Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) a more proven potential challenger even as other Democrats are seeking the nomination.
Collins could face toughest re-election fight yet: WSJ reports Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills officially launched a bid to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins, in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races.
Is this top Senate recruit too old to run? Some Democrats think so. WP reports Maine Gov. Janet Mills, 77, would be the oldest freshman senator ever. Her Tuesday campaign launch has prompted some criticism and reignited a debate in the party about age.
The rise of the smartphone and the fall of Western democracy Thomas B. Edsall
First Wap, a discreet cyber-surveillance firm tracking journalists, public figures, and corporate executives: Little known to the public, this long-standing player in the surveillance industry has been selling phone-tracking technology for more than 20 years, including to authoritarian regimes. Among its targets: a journalist investigating the Vatican, an Airbus employee, and Hollywood actor Jared Leto. Le Monde
US Army plans to power bases with tiny nuclear reactors: WSJ reports the Janus Program fulfills a Trump order to start powering military installations with state-of-the-art nuclear technology.
Two of the biggest US timberland owners strike deal to combine: WSJ reports Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic plan to combine in an all-stock deal that would create a more than $7 billion company.
GM takes $1.6 billion charge on EV pullback: WSJ reports the automaker cited the end of government-funded subsidies and regulatory mandates as it reduced electric-vehicle manufacturing capacity.
Jeep-maker Stellantis plans $13 billion investment to boost US manufacturing: WSJ reports the automaker says that American production will grow by 50% with 5,000 new jobs at plants across the Midwest.
Social media ban will make us more secretive, say Australian teens: The Times reports as a government campaign seeks to persuade children the ban is for their own good, sceptical young users say it will not teach them navigate the web safely.
Instagram to limit content for teenage users based on PG-13 ratings: WSJ reports the platform will hide certain content from teens, such as strong language and risky stunts.
California plans on protecting minors and preventing self-destructive content by regulating AI: Le Monde reports the legislation, signed on Monday by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, requires platforms to remind users that they are interacting with a chatbot − not a human − and to direct users to emergency services if they express suicidal thoughts.
Reuters: Walmart partners with OpenAI for ChatGPT shopping feature
Soon you’ll be able to shop Walmart in ChatGPT. Here’s why it matters. Retail giant signals that online shopping is about to change. WSJ
How you can make ChatGPT your personal shopper and deal hunter: Artificial intelligence platforms can help with shopping by giving you personalized recommendations and comparing prices. WP
Google said it will spend $15bn over five years to build its largest artificial-intelligence data centre outside America, in India. The hub will boost computing capacity for AI.
China now leads the US in this key part of the AI race: Free artificial intelligence technology released by Chinese tech companies appears to be more powerful and popular than that developed by American rivals. WP
IMF warns burst AI bubble could rival dotcom crash: The Times reports International Monetary Fund says risks to financial stability are elevated, citing ‘stretched’ asset valuations, trade tensions, and levels of government debt.
Bloomberg: Goldman tells staff it will cut more jobs as AI saves costs
The AI future you want depends on these questions: After decades of hype, the AI-powered future long-promised by its champions is coming into focus. When that image resolves, what exactly do you want to see? Bloomberg
Apple is preparing to expand its manufacturing operations in Vietnam as part of a push into the smart home market and an ongoing effort to lessen its dependence on China.
Are we about to enter an age of leisure? Don’t bet on it: Productivity gains won’t necessarily translate into the embrace of free time — especially in America. Sarah O'Connor
In Japan and beyond, space startups are relying more on government cash: Private money takes a step back as profits and exit opportunities underwhelm. Nikkei
Tiny microphones, huge presence: Once a quirky accessory, small external microphones have become ubiquitous in social media videos. NYT
NCAA: Purdue, Houston, Florida lead AP Top 25 men's basketball preseason poll
1. Purdue
2. Houston
3. Florida
4. UConn
5. St. John's
6. Duke
7. Michigan
8. BYU
9. Kentucky
10. Texas Tech
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
A11. | October 15
