10 Things Global News - 17th October 2025
Interesting and important news from around the world
Bolton Charged Over Classified Information
US Strike on Caribbean Boat Leaves Survivors
US Southern Command Chief Holsey to Retire Early
Trump Plans Putin Meeting On Ukraine Cease-Fire
Houthis Confirm Death Of Military Chief Ghamari
Trump Warns Hamas To Disarm Or Be Attacked
Peru Plans Emergency After Deadly Lima Protests
Lecornu Survives Votes After Pension U-Turn
Kuala Lumpur Rounds Up Homeless Before Asean
Chamber Sues To Block $100k H-1B Visa Fee
On this day ….
On this day in 1973, Arab oil-producing states announced an embargo against countries supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The resulting price shock exposed the fragility of Western energy dependence and reshaped global economics, fuelling inflation, recession and a decades-long focus on energy security.
Today’s geopolitical energy battles — from pipeline politics to renewable supply chains — still trace their roots to the leverage first demonstrated in that moment, when oil became an instrument of strategic power.
As and when the world transitions away from reliance on fossil fuels will this make our planet less vulnerable to geopolitical tensions?
Former US national security adviser John Bolton has been indicted on 18 federal counts for mishandling and sharing classified information, including highly sensitive material from his time in government.
Prosecutors allege Bolton stored top-secret records at home and shared more than 1,000 pages of diary-style notes — some revealing intelligence sources, covert plans and missile launch details — with close family members who lacked security clearance. The material is also believed to have been exposed after Iranian-linked hackers accessed his personal email accounts.
The case, pursued by career prosecutors, marks the third prosecution in a month targeting prominent critics of President Donald Trump. Bolton, a longstanding figure in Republican foreign policy circles, called the charges an attempt by Trump to “intimidate his opponents.”
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison on each count. The trial is expected to test the boundaries of national security law and political influence over justice.
Sources: Associated Press, CNN, US Justice Dept.
The US military carried out another strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, in the first known case where crew survived. A US official said details remained unclear, including whether aid was rendered or custody established. Thursday’s action is the sixth known boat attack since last month; earlier strikes off Venezuela killed at least 27 people, and prior footage showed vessels destroyed with no reports of survivors.
The administration argues it is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with narcotrafficking groups and has labelled targets “narcoterrorists.” Some lawmakers have questioned authorisation and evidence for the attacks.
The operations sit within a wider regional military build-up involving warships and aircraft, and the President has confirmed authorising covert CIA action in Venezuela. Caracas has asked the UN Security Council to deem the strikes illegal and to back Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Sources: Reuters, CBS News
Admiral Alvin Holsey will retire as head of U.S. Southern Command at the end of the year, less than a year into a role that typically runs for three. The announcement was made by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on social media, without a stated reason, and included thanks for Holsey’s 37 years of service. Officials said the move was abrupt and surprising.
The departure comes amid intensified U.S. operations against suspected drug boats off Venezuela, with at least five strikes since early September and about 27 deaths reported. Lawmakers have questioned authorisation and urged oversight, while Senate Republicans narrowly defeated an effort to halt the strikes.
Some reporting points to internal tensions around the mission, even as broader regional deployments continue. Senior Democrats warned the exit signals instability in the chain of command, and cautioned against any military intervention in Venezuela without congressional approval.
Sources: Washington Post, New York Times
After a call lasting more than two hours, President Trump said he plans to meet President Vladimir Putin in Budapest “in two weeks or so” to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. The announcement came a day before Trump’s White House meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is expected to seek Tomahawk missiles and other systems.
Although Trump had signalled he might allow such weapons, he expressed hesitation, saying the United States “need[s] Tomahawks,” and added that Putin did not want him to provide them.
Before any summit, senior advisers — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio — are to meet Russian counterparts, with Russian aide Yuri Ushakov saying preparatory talks would begin “without delay.” The Budapest session would follow an August summit in Alaska that produced no public concessions. Critics, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen, argue meeting again rewards Putin while Ukraine receives no new arms.
Sources: New York Times, Politico
Yemen’s Houthi movement says its military chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Ghamari, has been killed, alongside his 13-year-old son. The statement offered few details. Israel’s defence minister said al-Ghamari died of wounds from an Israeli air strike in Sanaa in late August that also killed the Houthi-run government’s prime minister and other ministers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said another “chief of staff” seeking to harm Israel had been eliminated.
The Iran-backed group has controlled much of north-west Yemen for a decade and launched drone and missile attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping after the Gaza war began. The Houthis acknowledged heavy losses from what they called “American-Zionist aggression.”
The AP reported they have named Maj. Gen. Yusuf Hassan al-Madani as replacement. Since a Gaza ceasefire began on 10 October, there have been no Houthi attacks targeting Israel or shipping, though the group says it remains ready to act if the agreement is not observed.
Sources: BBC, Associated Press
President Donald Trump warned that if Hamas continues killings in Gaza, “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” before later clarifying that U.S. troops would not enter Gaza. He said actors “very close” would act “under our auspices.” The comments followed his earlier remarks playing down Hamas’s killings of alleged gang members since a ceasefire and hostage deal took effect last week.
Trump said Hamas “will disarm,” adding that if it did not, it would be disarmed “quickly and perhaps violently.” Under the ceasefire plan, all hostages — living and dead — were to be handed over by a deadline that has passed; Hamas says it handed over remains it had access to, while Israel has demanded fulfilment of the agreement.
The U.S. has sent about 200 troops to Israel to support and monitor the deal, with officials stressing U.S. forces would not enter Gaza.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera
Peru is set to declare a state of emergency in Lima after protests against newly installed President José Jerí left one person dead and many injured. Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez said the decree would come within hours alongside measures to address insecurity.
Thousands rallied nationwide, with clashes outside congress in Lima as police used teargas and some protesters hurled fireworks and burning objects. Officials said the death of 32-year-old Eduardo Ruiz would be investigated.
Jerí expressed regret and blamed infiltrators for violence. He said he would ask congress for authority to legislate on public safety, noting a focus on prison reform. The interior minister said 89 police and 22 civilians were injured and 11 people detained.
The demonstrations, organised by young activists and others, followed the impeachment of Dina Boluarte last week and Jerí’s swearing-in to serve the remainder of the term until elections next year.
Sources: The Guardian, BBC
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence motions days after reappointment, following a pledge to suspend the 2023 pension reform and not to use Article 49.3 to push the budget through.
The first motion, filed by France Unbowed, fell 18 votes short of the 289 needed; a second, tabled by the National Rally and allies, drew 144 votes. Socialist MPs withheld decisive support after Lecornu’s commitment, while their leader warned they could still back a move to topple the government if that promise is not honoured.
Lecornu said he will propose in November an amendment to suspend the reform. Budget negotiations begin next week, with the government seeking to pass a cost-cutting plan amid EU pressure over debt and deficit. Lecornu has vowed open debate rather than invoking constitutional shortcuts. Opposition figures called the suspension a “decoy” and accused rivals of avoiding elections.
Sources: Le Monde, RFI
Malaysian authorities have rounded up hundreds of homeless people in Kuala Lumpur ahead of next week’s Asean summit, drawing criticism that image is being prioritised over the issue. Since February, 545 people — including 180 foreigners — have been gathered under a multi-agency operation targeting hotspots near the summit venue.
In the latest pre-dawn sweep, 101 people, including 27 foreign nationals, were taken to a city transit centre. Officials said the aim was to create a “more conducive environment” and protect the country’s image, while volunteers called the action “performative” and warned it merely displaces people.
The summit will run from 26–28 October at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, with leaders from the United States, China and India attending. Police plan to deploy more than 16,000 officers and expect road closures near key sites. Amid public frustration over disruption, the foreign minister said there would be “no lockdown” and urged people to avoid the KLCC area due to strict security.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Malaysia Now
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has sued to block President Donald Trump’s new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, filing in Washington, D.C., and alleging the move violates the Immigration and Nationality Act and exceeds executive authority. The business group called the fee “plainly unlawful,” arguing it would be cost-prohibitive for employers, especially start-ups and small and midsize firms.
The White House said the action is lawful and a necessary first step toward H-1B reforms. Officials have argued the high fee would deter entry-level hiring and restrict use to top specialists; the administration also unveiled optional “gold card” residency paths priced at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for companies.
Authorities later clarified the changes do not apply to current H-1B holders. Before this shift, new H-1B visas were capped at 85,000 annually, with fees that rarely exceeded $5,000 excluding legal costs.