Leftwinger Catherine Connolly wins Ireland presidential election by landslideThe prospect of Connolly succeeding President Michael D Higgins and serving a seven-year term at Áras an Uachtaráin, the presidential residence, thrills supporters. She speaks Irish, espouses equality and wishes to ringfence Irish neutrality from what she calls western “militarism”. She has likened Germany’s arms spending to the Nazi era and accused the UK and US of enabling genocide in Gaza.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/25/catherine-connolly-ireland-presidential-election-leftwingCroatia reintroduces military conscription as Europe worries about Russia-Ukraine warAuthorities will start calling conscripts born in 2007 for medical checkups by the end of the year. Conscripts will receive a salary, and conscientious objectors can choose civilian service instead, the HRT report said.
https://apnews.com/article/croatia-compulsory-military-service-ukraine-32c84a8c4afc8790bee82644d8366e46Telegram and WhatsApp Access Restricted in 34 Russian Regions – Monitor “Complaints about unstable performance of the messengers are increasing across Russia. Thirty-four regions have already reported losing the ability not only to make calls, but also to exchange messages,” Na Svyazi said Wednesday. State communications watchdog Roskomnadzor had already been restricting voice and video calls on the two apps since August, a move both companies criticized.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/22/telegram-and-whatsapp-access-restricted-in-34-russian-regions-monitor-a90903https://archive.ph/0kxp4Spain to buy US weapons for Ukraine, says it is ‘a reliable partner’‘We are fulfilling our obligations and commitments,’ says PM Pedro Sánchez, underscoring the missions that Madrid contributes to. Spain will now join the PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) program coordinated by NATO
https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-10-23/spain-to-buy-us-weapons-for-ukraine-says-it-is-a-reliable-partner.htmlUS rejects Hamas, UNRWA roles in Gaza as Israeli aid blockade persistsIsrael has also kept the Rafah crossing near Egypt sealed, blocking large-scale aid deliveries that were stipulated in the truce agreement. In his remarks on Friday, Rubio voiced hope of soon putting together an international security force to police the ceasefire in Gaza and said Israel, which opposes including Turkiye, could veto participants.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/24/us-rejects-hamas-unrwa-roles-in-gaza-as-israeli-aid-blockade-persistshttps://archive.ph/vmP4R Iraq to discuss Turkiye’s extended military mandate Turkiye’s parliament approved the extension on October 21, authorizing operations in Iraq and Syria through 2028 – the longest mandate since its incursions began in 2016. The measure allows continued strikes against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and ISIS. The move comes despite a peace initiative by the PKK, which earlier this year announced its disbandment and disarmament after imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan called for an end to the armed struggle.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraq-to-discuss-Turkiye-s-extended-military-mandateTunisia suspends ATFD women's rights groupThe Tunisian Association of Democratic Women rights group said authorities had suspended its activities, in a move denounced by fellow activists. Founded in 1989, the ATFD has been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy in Tunisia and against the dictatorship of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was overthrown in 2011 by a popular uprising.
https://www.newarab.com/news/tunisia-suspends-atfd-womens-rights-groupRussia's top Indian oil buyer Reliance says it will abide by Western sanctionsReliance, which is controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani and operates the world's biggest refining complex at Jamnagar in western Gujarat state, has a long-term deal to buy nearly 500,000 bpd of crude oil from Russian oil major Rosneft.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-top-indian-oil-client-reliance-says-will-abide-by-western-sanctions-2025-10-24/UP Diliman defends student leader subpoenaed over anti-corruption ralliesJoaquin Buenaflor, chairperson of the UP Diliman University Student Council, said that police officers arrived at his home on Wednesday to deliver the subpoena. This is purportedly in connection with his role in organizing or joining recent anti-corruption protests. The student leader said he was the fourth such person to have been issued the subpoena by police after three student leaders at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/10/24/2482232/diliman-defends-student-leader-subpoenaed-over-anti-corruption-ralliesYangon Garment Factories Close as US Tariffs and Junta Controls BiteThe closures so far involve Chinese-owned factories in Shwepyitha’s War Tayar Industrial Zone, Hlaing Tharyar’s Mya Sein Yaung Zone, and Shwe Lin Ban Zone, according to labor groups. Rather than fully shutting down—which would require large compensation payouts—many owners are scaling back operations, citing a lack of orders. “They downsize instead of closing completely, so they can pay less to workers,” Ma Ei explained.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/business/yangon-garment-factories-close-as-us-tariffs-and-junta-controls-bite.html‘We’ll march as many times as necessary’: Peru’s youth protesters defy state of emergencyGroup leaders said they would be honouring Eduardo Ruiz, a rapper known as Truko, who was shot dead by a plainclothed police officer last week during a huge anti-government march in Lima. They also demanded the resignation of the new interim president, José Jerí, and the shutting down of Peru’s unpopular congress, which they blame for a series of laws that they claim are contributing to soaring crime.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/25/peru-youth-protesters-state-of-emergency-gen-zMilei spent around US$7.4 billion protecting dollar in lead up to electionSunday’s legislative elections come at a historic cost: President Milei’s government has used around US$7.4 billion – a figure that could rise to US$8.4 billion, including funds from US Treasury are included – to keep the peso-dollar exchange rate stable over the two months leading up to the vote. According to Banco Provincia, it is the fourth-largest foreign exchange intervention since 2003.
https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/economy/milei-spent-around-us74-billion-protecting-dollar-in-lead-up-to-election.phtml