Israel Starts Ground Push Into Gaza City
Arab-Islamic Summit Condemns Doha Strike
Court Blocks Trump’s Bid to Remove Fed Governor
Trump Orders National Guard Deployment to Memphis
Trump Says U.S. Hit Second Suspected Drug Boat
RAF Typhoons to Guard Poland’s Skies
Russia–Belarus Drills Signal Power Near NATO
China Says Nvidia Broke Antitrust Rules
TikTok Deal Reached Amid Security Debate
Trump Sues New York Times For $15bn
Israel launched a ground offensive to occupy Gaza City, with officials saying the aim is to root out Hamas. The move follows days of intensified airstrikes that flattened high-rise buildings said to be used by the group. On Monday evening, tanks entered the city after renewed bombardment, according to Palestinian reports from Gaza.
The military has urged civilians to move south to designated areas and says hundreds of thousands have already left Gaza City. Israel’s top security chiefs had advised against the operation, warning it could endanger hostages, cause heavy military losses, fail to dismantle Hamas, and force direct rule over Gaza. During a visit to Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signalled support for the operation proceeding quickly, with a US official saying Israel would make its own decisions over the war.
Sources: Axios, BBC
Arab and Muslim leaders met in Doha and condemned Israel’s attack on the Qatari capital, which targeted senior Hamas figures and killed at least six people. Nearly 60 states attended the emergency Arab League–OIC session, called after what leaders described as an unprecedented escalation.
But unity frayed over next steps. Qatar’s emir accused Israel of sabotaging talks and committing “genocide” in Gaza; Turkey urged economic pressure; Egypt warned of a grave breach of international law; Iran pressed for solidarity; and Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Malaysia urged firmer measures.
The Gulf Cooperation Council said it would activate joint defence mechanisms, yet a final statement urged only “legal and effective measures,” and reporting described minimal action amid differing views.
Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera
A US appeals court has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, allowing her to participate in this week’s critical meeting on interest rates. The 2–1 ruling came just hours before the Fed’s two-day session, where officials are expected to vote on a rate cut. Trump is still able to petition the Supreme Court in an attempt to unseat her.
Cook sued after Trump tried to dismiss her in August over allegations of mortgage fraud, which she denies. Both the district court and appeals court found the administration failed to give her due process, noting she was not given notice or a chance to respond before being told of her removal on social media.
The dispute has highlighted concerns about political interference in the Fed, an institution historically insulated from partisan pressures. Economists warn that White House control could undermine its independence and destabilise markets.
Meanwhile the Senate voted 48-47 to approve President Trump’s latest nominee to the Federal Reserve board, Stephen Miran.
Sources: Bloomberg, Fortune
President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of National Guard troops to Memphis, marking his latest move to use federal forces against urban crime in Democratic-led cities. The executive order, signed at the White House alongside Tennessee’s Republican governor Bill Lee and the state’s senators, creates a Memphis Safe Task Force that will also include federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump described the operation as a “replica” of his recent crackdown in Washington.
While Lee welcomed the action, Memphis mayor Paul Young opposed the move, saying the National Guard was not the solution. Local police data show overall crime has declined to a 25-year low this year, though gun violence remains persistent.
Trump said Chicago is “probably next,” despite objections from Illinois governor JB Pritzker, and also mentioned St Louis, New Orleans and Baltimore as possible future targets.
Sources: The Guardian, PBS
President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has struck a second boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three people, nearly two weeks after an earlier attack that killed 11. He told reporters he had been shown footage of the latest strike and cited cocaine and fentanyl “spattered all over the ocean” as proof. Trump suggested operations could expand to land, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned cartels the U.S. would “track them, kill them, and dismantle their networks.”
The actions triggered pushback. Senators from both parties questioned the legality of using the military for law enforcement, and Senator Adam Schiff said he is drafting a war powers resolution to block strikes without authorisation.
Human rights groups called the killings unlawful, and Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro condemned the first attack as a “heinous crime” intended to provoke conflict. The White House has framed the strikes as necessary to counter narcotics trafficking that threatens U.S. national security.
Sources: Associated Press, New York Times
The UK will deploy RAF Typhoon jets within days to bolster NATO’s new Eastern Sentry air policing after 19 Russian drones crossed into Poland last week. Defence Secretary John Healey said the fighters are ready to shoot down drones over Poland and other eastern allies if required, working with French, German and Danish aircraft alongside Dutch F-35s and Polish F-16s.
The mission could extend to Romania after a separate drone incursion, with Voyagers providing refuelling and 400 UK personnel supporting operations. NATO set up Eastern Sentry and called in more jets after only a handful of the Polish incursions were intercepted.
Poland’s foreign minister urged a NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine and said Warsaw could engage drones across the border, while the UK said Typhoons would start flying missions in the coming days.
Sources: The Independent, The Guardian
Russia and Belarus staged large Zapad-2025 exercises near Minsk, featuring guided bombing runs, artillery barrages, helicopters and surveillance drones. Officials said the planned drills, held every four years, are defensive. Military attachés and media from 23 countries — including the US, Turkey and Hungary — observed.
The display comes amid heightened tension after Russian drones crossed into Polish and Romanian airspace, prompting NATO jets to scramble. Poland closed its border with Belarus ahead of the drills, while Moscow said it had not planned to engage targets on Polish territory.
Belarus cast the event as transparent, but European concern remains that such incursions test allied unity. At the Borisovsky training ground, commanders showcased firepower as part of wider manoeuvres taking place in Belarus, Russia and nearby seas. With relations with Europe strained, the timing and scale served as a pointed message on the alliance’s doorstep.
Sources: BBC, CNN
China’s regulator has ruled that Nvidia violated anti-monopoly law through its 2020 acquisition of Mellanox Technologies, escalating tensions during trade talks with Washington. The State Administration for Market Regulation said the probe, launched in December, would continue and could lead to penalties, though no remedies were specified.
Beijing had approved the US$6.9–7 billion deal on condition that Nvidia supply Chinese firms fairly and ensure product compatibility. Analysts said the announcement signalled Beijing’s intent to press ahead rather than let the case fade, adding pressure on Nvidia and the US government. The ruling came as officials from both countries met in Madrid to discuss tariffs, semiconductors and what looks like a deal on TikTok.
Nvidia, a dominant supplier of AI chips, has faced repeated curbs on sales to China under US export controls. In response, it redesigned its processors, but Beijing has urged domestic firms to avoid its H20 chips, citing security concerns.
Sources: Bloomberg, South China Morning Post
The Trump administration and China have announced a framework deal to keep TikTok operational in the United States, concluding years of uncertainty over the app’s future. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the agreement would be finalised during a call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this week, with the deal expected to pave the way for an in-person leaders’ meeting in October.
Details of the framework remain unclear. Chinese officials said it would involve cooperation on user data and licensing arrangements, while a White House official indicated ByteDance’s stake would fall below 20 percent, removing Beijing’s direct access to US data. The agreement has already drawn scrutiny in Congress, where some Republican lawmakers warned it must fully comply with legislation mandating divestment.
Despite scepticism, many welcomed progress, noting the prolonged dispute had unsettled users and investors. TikTok counts 170 million American users, making its fate a politically charged issue.
Sources: CNN, Politico
US President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times in a Florida federal court, seeking $15bn in damages. His lawyers accuse the paper of “spreading false and defamatory content” and acting as a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic party. The suit targets articles based on the book Lucky Loser published in mid-September, one of which is described as “defamatory, malicious, and false”.
The filing also criticises the paper’s portrayal of The Apprentice and alleges a decades-long pattern of intentional defamation. Trump seeks compensatory damages of “not less than $15bn” and punitive damages to be set by the court. Previous Trump lawsuits against the Times — a 2020 case over an opinion column and a 2021 suit involving tax records — were dismissed. The newspaper could not immediately be reached for comment.