Geopolitics & Policy
Geopolitics & Policy news — Thursday 05 November 2026
45 stories from 5 sources, every one in English. Each links to its publisher.
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Trump’s first move after midterms? Ensuring future presidents can’t change his Oval Office
South China Morning Post Tech
US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a proclamation that he says will preserve the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as a national monument, his first official action after his party was swept aside in midterm elections on Tuesday. But…
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Following Wiretapping Arrests, Indonesia Deploys Thousands of Troops for Former President’s Trial
On Tuesday, authorities announced the arrest of three senior police officers for illegally wiretapping the phones of President Prabowo Subianto and other politicians.
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Scott Wiener set to replace Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, as Connie Chan concedes
South China Morning Post Tech
California state Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco, a prolific Democratic lawmaker who has reshaped state policy on a host of fronts – from housing to transgender rights – will succeed former House speaker Nancy Pelosi in Congress…
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California Governor Newsom granting clemency to all 548 death row inmates in state
South China Morning Post Tech
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Thursday he will commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates currently condemned to execution in his state, the largest death row in the western hemisphere, declaring he believes capital…
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Is Lula’s upset win also a victory for Chinese firms in Brazil?
South China Morning Post Tech
With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going…
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AI storm dooms tech stocks to US$2 trillion decline on darkest day since 2025
South China Morning Post Tech
Tech-led Nasdaq notched its deepest one-day drop since ‘Liberation Day’ in April 2025, wiping out trillions in market value on fears of more AI scrutiny, particularly on data centre construction, after Democrats won big in US midterm…
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India-born leftist Nithya Raman becomes LA mayor, beating incumbent Karen Bass
South China Morning Post Tech
Democratic socialist Nithya Raman ousted incumbent Democrat Karen Bass to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, ending a heated race that saw the one-time allies spar over frustration with the status quo. Bass called Raman on Thursday to…
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For More Than 20 Years, Bangladesh’s One Constant Has Been Political Violence
Violent clashes between rival parties, within their own ranks, and around elections have persisted through successive governments.
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Mass protests sweep France again, as workers strike and march for ‘dignified wage’
South China Morning Post Tech
Hundreds of thousands of striking workers protested across France on Thursday against the rising cost of living following weeks of youth-led demonstrations, with police firing tear gas as clashes broke out in some cities. The marches come…
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Cuba detains award-winning journalist Yoani Sanchez
South China Morning Post Tech
Independent journalist Yoani Sanchez, who has won awards for her reporting on Cuba, and two prominent Cuban activists were released Thursday after spending hours in detention in Havana. “I just got home. Thank you all for your solidarity…
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‘J.D., habibi’: Arabs celebrate as Michigan’s El-Sayed mocks foes with term of affection
South China Morning Post Tech
From Michigan to the Middle East, Arabs are celebrating Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate win and delighting in his introduction of Arabic terms like habibi and “inshallah” to the American political lexicon. After being the target of Islamophobic…
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Melania Trump hosts Ukraine, Russia officials, calls for ‘more enduring’ truce
South China Morning Post Tech
US President Donald Trump predicted Thursday an imminent deal with Russia covering Ukraine and “all of Europe”, after his wife, first lady Melania Trump, hosted officials from the two warring countries at the White House. Trump revealed…
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Paraguay’s President Pena resigns under mounting pressure from bank collapse
South China Morning Post Tech
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena is under criminal investigation following the collapse of a major digital bank, prosecutors have announced, as the South American leader prepares to defend himself before the Senate against possible…
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The Politics of Pandemic Preparedness: Why South and Southeast Asia Need a Stronger Voice
The Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing annex, currently under negotiation, has profound implications for dependency and health sovereignty in South and Southeast Asia.
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Asia’s Debt Handoff: Who Finances the Post-BRI Era?
As Belt and Road repayments come due and multilateral lenders step in, Asian borrowers must decide whether the new creditor landscape becomes a source of leverage or simply a new form of dependence.
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The Naf River Exposes a Gap in Bangladesh’s Maritime Strategy
The incidents around the Naf River pose an unforeseen threat to Bangladeshi security, one that can't be solved by introducing more warships.
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Japan Plans New Defense Industrial Strategy to Prepare for Prolonged Conflicts
Tokyo seeks to boost production capacity for military emergencies and expand defense exports amid growing regional threats.
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The Trump Administration Is Sending Mixed Messages to North Korea
While President Trump angles for a meeting, the FBI and State Department signal business as usual.
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Iran says 5 tankers catch fire after striking naval mines in Strait of Hormuz
South China Morning Post Tech
Five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and army said in separate statements, according to local media on Thursday. Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, Tehran has…
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British actor Russell Brand faces prison after rape, sexual assault conviction
South China Morning Post Tech
Russell Brand, the risqué comic who bragged for years of his sexual exploits, was convicted Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others on allegations dating back years. The British actor-comedian faces a…
- How a Diplomatic Row Ended a Korean Startup’s AI War Test in Ukraine
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Rustam Emomali Awarded Order for ‘Selfless Service’ by Uzbek President
Emomali is chair of Tajikistan’s National Assembly, the appointed mayor of Dushanbe, and, oh yes, son of President Emomali Rahmon.
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US labour market holds firm as weekly lay-offs tumble to 57-year low
South China Morning Post Tech
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment slipped to a 57-year low last week as lay-offs fell against the backdrop of a resilient labour market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 6,000 to a seasonally…
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The US Midterm Elections: Views From China
Most Chinese analysts don’t expect a sea change in U.S. foreign policy, but there are some implications for China to consider.
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Boy George hailed ‘hero’ for defying cultural boycott to perform in Israel
South China Morning Post Tech
When cheers erupted at a packed Tel Aviv stadium for Boy George, it was not only a sign of the 65-year-old singer’s enduring fame. It was the sound of national delight at an international pop star willing to perform in an increasingly…
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US borrowing outlook steadies after midterms, but Treasury yields face new tests: analysts
South China Morning Post Tech
After the Democrats swept the US midterm elections, a divided government may help restrain future Treasury borrowing and prevent fresh deficit blowouts, though it will not necessarily bring down elevated bond yields, analysts say. The US…
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What China’s Half-Empty 5th Plenum Says About Its Next Leaders
Empty seats and back-row observers at the Communist Party’s latest plenum hint at how Xi will remake the elite in 2027.
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The New Senators on China
ChinaTalk
Voters showed up in historic fashion for the Democrats on Tuesday night, flipping control of both houses and leaving Trump a lame duck for his final two years. These races were won mostly by campaigning on affordability and corruption. But…
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The Daily Roundup
The Wire China
November 5th, 2026 | Welcome to The Wire’s daily news roundup. Each day, our staff gathers the top China business, finance, and economics headlines from a selection of the world’s leading news organizations. The post The Daily Roundup…
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Finland jails Russian cargo ship captain over Baltic Sea cable sabotage
South China Morning Post Tech
A Finnish court on Thursday jailed the Russian captain and an Azerbaijani crew member of the cargo ship Fitburg for aggravated sabotage over damage to two subsea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland last year. Finland on…
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The US-China tech contest has moved – to the gatekeeping product testers
South China Morning Post Tech
The latest front in the US-China technology contest is not advanced chips, artificial intelligence (AI) or telecommunications equipment. It is the laboratories that certify whether an electronic product may enter the American market. On…
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What Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Brought Home From Japan
For Bangladesh, closer ties with Japan mean another source of funding and technology for its industries, as well as more support for maritime patrols.
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US midterm elections: all you need to know, from Democrats’ big wins to effects on China
South China Morning Post Tech
We have put together 17 of our top stories from our coverage of the US midterm elections. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Democrats take US Congress, reshaping Trump’s final two years – as it…
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China ready to expand US agricultural imports if Board of Trade tariff cuts take effect
South China Morning Post Tech
Beijing says it remains open to buying more agricultural products from the United States, but wants reciprocal tariff cuts covering US$30 billion worth of products on each side to be implemented first under the US-China Board of Trade…
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Vietnam seeks Russia’s help for its nuclear ambition. Will sanctions stall it?
South China Morning Post Tech
Vietnam’s growing nuclear partnership with Russia could help Hanoi gain the expertise needed to fuel its ambitious nuclear programme amid doubts over Western sanctions against Moscow and financing challenges complicating the plans. The…
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Bomb threat forces Ireland-Italy flight to divert to French airbase
South China Morning Post Tech
Bomb threats targeted more than a dozen flights in Europe on Thursday, leading to a slew of emergency landings and military escorts in some cases, authorities said. No hazardous or suspicious materials have been found in what a British…
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Robert D. Kaplan on the China Whisperers Who Shaped How the U.S. Views Its Main Rival
The Wire China
The writer and historian talks about his new book on the key men and women that have influenced America’s approach to China over the last century, and the dangers of ‘groupthink’ among China hands. The post Robert D. Kaplan on the China…
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The Golden Dome Proposal is Destabilizing and Dangerous
War on the Rocks
Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a two-part series exploring the Golden Dome for America proposal. Please also read the first, “Golden Dome Is Technologically and Financially Infeasible.”Golden Dome is an ambitious proposal for…
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Philippine police investigate Meghan’s brother as Markle child abuse inquiry widens
South China Morning Post Tech
Philippine investigators are examining whether Thomas Markle Jnr, the half-brother of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was involved in alleged child sexual abuse offences as an investigation into their father widens, according to the…
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Who Repairs the Internet in Wartime?
War on the Rocks
In spring 2026, Britain, Norway, and the United States tracked and disrupted a covert Arctic exercise off the coast of Norway involving Russian deep-sea submersibles simulating the deployment of a weapon designed to disable the two…
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How the Ban on the Awami League is Being Turned on Bangladesh’s Garment Workers
Bangladesh has swapped one form of political exclusion for another. Now its garment workers are paying the price.
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Centuries-old UK parliament risks ‘catastrophic failure’ over delayed revamp
South China Morning Post Tech
Britain’s centuries-old parliament is at risk of a “Notre Dame-like” fire or other catastrophe if lawmakers continue to put off a major restoration project, MPs warned on Wednesday. Crumbling masonry, ageing electrics, frequent leaks and…
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North Korea digs in for US stand-off as Democratic midterm wins dim summit hopes
South China Morning Post Tech
North Korea is bracing for a prolonged confrontation with the United States, analysts say, after sweeping Democratic gains in the US midterm elections diminished the likelihood of renewed diplomacy between Kim Jong-un and President Donald…
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Russia’s ‘eastward pivot’ gains steam as Putin confirms new China border railway
South China Morning Post Tech
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a deal to build a second standard-gauge railway track at a key border crossing with China, as Moscow looks to accelerate its eastward pivot and boost ties with Beijing ahead of the Apec…
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Hunt in Canada after multiple grizzlies suspected of killing mother and daughter
South China Morning Post Tech
More than one grizzly may have been involved in a bear attack that relatives say left a mother and daughter dead in Bella Coola along the province’s central coast, the Conservation Officer Service in British Columbia said. The service’s…