Israeli Navy Detains Gaza Flotilla Activists
Israel Issues Final Evacuation Warning for Gaza City
Trump Pledges US Defence Backing For Qatar
EU Leaders Back Drone Wall And Ukraine Loan Plan
US to Share Intelligence for Ukraine Strikes
France Detains Crew Of Russia-Linked Tanker
Taiwan Accuses China of Misusing UN Resolution
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Escalates In Chicago
US Private Jobs Fall As Shutdown Obscures Data
Australia and PNG Approve Landmark Defence Pact
On this day …..
On this day in 1967 Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. A former lawyer for the NAACP, Marshall had successfully argued Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which struck down racial segregation in schools. His appointment by President Lyndon Johnson represented a milestone in the civil rights movement and broadened representation at the highest judicial level.
On the Court, Marshall developed a reputation for his defence of individual rights, opposition to the death penalty, and advocacy for equal protection.
His legacy endures as a symbol of progress in American law and society.
The Israeli navy has intercepted vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza, detaining dozens of activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the boats were stopped safely and the passengers taken to an Israeli port, insisting the flotilla was violating a lawful blockade. Video released by Israel showed Thunberg receiving her belongings from a soldier, while the government described the flotilla as a provocation.
Activists said the flotilla was a peaceful humanitarian mission carrying aid, alleging that one boat had been rammed and others hit with water cannons. Hamas called the interception an act of piracy, while Turkey’s foreign ministry labelled it terrorism.
Demonstrations were reported in several countries, with Italy’s largest union declaring a strike and Colombia expelling Israeli diplomats and ending its free trade deal. Ireland said at least seven of its citizens were detained, including a Sinn Féin senator.
Sources: BBC, Times of Israel
Israel’s defence minister has declared that Palestinians in Gaza City have a “last opportunity” to evacuate south before the military intensifies its assault. He warned that anyone remaining would be treated as a militant or supporter.
Gaza’s civil defence reported at least 46 deaths on Wednesday, while hospitals said 21 others were killed elsewhere in the territory. The International Committee of the Red Cross suspended its operations in the city as bombardments continued.
The order came as Hamas considered how to respond to Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. The proposal demands disarmament, release of hostages and an Israeli withdrawal to buffer zones, in exchange for a halt in fighting and an influx of aid. Hamas has signalled it may request amendments to terms on disarmament and leadership expulsion. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials reported further deaths from starvation, bringing the toll to 455 since the conflict began nearly two years ago.
Sources: The Guardian, Washington Post
US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order pledging to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to US security, saying Washington will take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic and, if necessary, military — to defend both US and Qatari interests.
Qatar welcomed the move as a milestone in defence ties. The order, dated Monday, came the day Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and presented a Gaza ceasefire proposal.
The order follows last month’s Israeli air strike in Doha aimed at Hamas leaders, which the US says was launched with little advance notice, causing consternation in Washington. It directs US defence and intelligence officials to maintain contingency planning with Qatar for rapid responses to any attack, and signals a deeper commitment than the 2022 designation of Qatar as a major non-Nato ally.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Politico
EU leaders meeting in Copenhagen have given broad support to proposals for a European “drone wall” and other anti-drone measures after recent airspace violations in Poland, Estonia, Romania and Denmark. Officials accused Russia of testing Europe’s defences, with Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen calling the incidents part of “hybrid war tactics” requiring urgent action.
Leaders agreed that boosting production of drones and countermeasures was a priority, with NATO’s secretary general describing the plan as timely and necessary.
The summit also debated a proposal to use frozen Russian assets to fund a €140 billion loan to Ukraine. The funds would be disbursed gradually, with repayment expected only after Russia compensates for war damage.
While most states backed the scheme, Belgium raised legal and technical concerns about hosting Euroclear, which holds the bulk of the assets. Leaders will revisit the proposals when the Commission presents a defence roadmap later this month.
Sources: Euronews, Reuters
The United States will provide Ukraine with intelligence to support long-range missile strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, marking the first time the Trump administration has approved such assistance.
Officials said the information would allow Kyiv to target refineries, pipelines and power stations deep inside Russia, aiming to weaken its war economy. Washington has also urged NATO allies to expand cooperation and is weighing whether to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk and Barracuda missiles.
The decision reflects a shift in Donald Trump’s approach to the war after his attempts to broker peace stalled. Last week he posted that Ukraine, with European support, could retake all its occupied territory, his most pro-Ukrainian statement to date. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has privately requested Tomahawk missiles, arguing they could bring Moscow to the negotiating table. Energy exports remain Russia’s key source of revenue to sustain the conflict.
Sources: Kyiv Independent, The Telegraph
French forces boarded the Benin-flagged oil tanker Boracay off Saint-Nazaire and detained two crew members who identified themselves as the captain and first mate. Prosecutors in Brest opened an investigation into failure to justify the vessel’s nationality and refusal to comply with instructions, offences that carry potential fines and prison terms.
President Emmanuel Macron said “very serious offences” justified judicial action, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had no knowledge of the ship.
The tanker has been blacklisted by the EU as part of a Russian “shadow fleet” used to circumvent sanctions and is also known as Pushpa and Kiwala. It left Primorsk on 20 September and was due to arrive in Vadinar on 20 October, according to tracking data.
Reports have linked the vessel to drone disruptions in Denmark, but Macron declined to confirm any connection, noting he would remain cautious about attributing the incidents.
Sources: France 24, BBC
Taiwan has accused China of attempting to build a legal basis for a future military attack through what it calls a misleading interpretation of a United Nations resolution. Resolution 2758, passed in 1971, transferred China’s UN seat from Taipei to Beijing but made no reference to Taiwan itself. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Beijing was deliberately distorting the resolution to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, warning it was part of broader efforts to isolate the island.
China’s foreign ministry responded that both sides of the strait were part of “one China” and reiterated that reunification would happen. Beijing, which has never ruled Taiwan, has not renounced the use of force and continues to send military assets around the island.
The US State Department said China’s characterisation of Resolution 2758 was a coercive attempt to exclude Taiwan, stressing that the text does not restrict countries from engaging substantively with Taipei.
Sources: Reuters, Sunday Guardian
Federal agents intensified their immigration crackdown in Chicago this week under Operation Midway Blitz, with large-scale raids targeting suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. On Tuesday night, more than 300 agents from ICE, the FBI and Border Patrol stormed an apartment complex on the South Side.
Helicopters were used to deploy snipers, while drones and armoured vehicles surrounded the building. Officials said about 30 people without legal immigration status were detained, with authorities citing links to organised crime.
Since early September, the operation has led to more than 800 arrests, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The administration has also ordered 100 National Guard troops to Illinois to protect federal facilities. While Trump officials say the crackdown is aimed at violent criminals, state and city leaders have condemned the deployment, accusing Washington of militarising Chicago. Protests have erupted downtown, with opponents warning of intimidation and constitutional overreach.
Sources: New York Times, Daily Express
US private-sector employment fell by 32,000 in September, according to ADP, adding to signs of a weakening labour market. With the federal government shutdown closing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the official payrolls report is unlikely to be published this week, leaving ADP as the main snapshot. ADP also revised August from a 54,000 gain to a loss of 3,000, indicating momentum has cooled further.
Small firms were hit hardest, with companies under 50 employees shedding jobs, while large employers with more than 500 workers posted gains. Losses were broad-based, led by leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and financial activities.
ADP said re-benchmarking to official data contributed to the negative print but the broader trend was unchanged. Pay growth for job-changers slowed to 6.6% in September, while job-stayers saw 4.5% year-on-year gains.
Sources: NBC News, CNN
Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved the Pukpuk defence treaty with Australia, clearing the way for the two nations to elevate their security relationship to the level of a formal alliance. The treaty commits both countries to defend each other in the event of a military attack and provides for increased cooperation between their defence forces.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape described the agreement as raising security ties to “the highest level in history”. He confirmed provisions allowing up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force under dual arrangements, alongside new commitments to border protection, interoperability, and joint training. Australia said the treaty puts PNG on the same footing as its alliances with the US and New Zealand.
The deal comes after a delay during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s September visit to Port Moresby, when PNG’s cabinet had not reached quorum. It has also faced criticism at home, with former PNG defence chief Jerry Singirok warning of potential constitutional and strategic risks.
The agreement attains increased significance in light of the rise of China’s influence in the Pacific.