China's economic slowdown, US-Australia rare earth deal, and Israel-Gaza ceasefire highlight global tensions amid US-EU discord over Trump-Putin summit.

Good Morning,

China's economic growth is experiencing a slowdown, exacerbated by ongoing trade tensions with the United States and domestic property issues. In a significant development, the United States and Australia have signed a rare earth agreement at the White House, with President Trump endorsing the Aukus alliance and praising the Australian Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the Israeli government has announced a ceasefire and the resumption of aid to Gaza following airstrikes that resulted in 26 casualties. In Europe, EU foreign ministers are cautiously navigating diplomatic tensions surrounding a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, while the UK is preparing new measures to counter drone threats over military bases.

Top Stories

● China’s economic growth slows amid Trump tariff war and property woes | Chinese economy (The Guardian)

● Live Updates: Trump and Australian Prime Minister Sign Rare Earth Agreement at White House Meeting (The New York Times)

● Trump administration latest: Senate Democrats again block GOP’s stopgap government funding bill (CNN)

● Israel says ceasefire and aid to resume after airstrikes kill 26 in Gaza (Reuters)

● 'No place for war criminals': EU foreign ministers walk fine line on Trump-Putin summit in Budapest.com (Euronews)

United States

● US appeals court lets Trump send troops to Portland (Reuters)

● Colombia recalls ambassador to United States amid diplomatic spat (Al Jazeera)

● US and Australia sign rare earths deal to counter China's dominance (BBC)

● Oregon’s governor calls on federal appeals court to stop Trump from deploying troops to Portland – live (The Guardian)

● 9th Circuit rules that National Guard can deploy to Portland - NPR (Npr)

● Supreme Court urged to leave ruling in place preventing Trump from deploying National Guard in Illinois - SCOTUSblog (Scotusblog)

● Trump tariffs live updates: Trump lists top demands on China, signs rare earth deal with Australia (Yahoo Finance)

Africa

● Nigerian police use teargas to quash protests over separatist leader's detention (Reuters)

● Nigeria’s victims of #EndSARS protest violence await justice five years on (Al Jazeera)

● Government of Egypt and United Nations Reaffirm Partnership to Strengthen Inclusive Basic Services for Migrants, Refugees, and Host Communities [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb (Reliefweb)

● Egypt, Boeing discuss expanding aviation partnership, investment cooperation (Dailynewsegypt)

● The allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria (The Week)

● Today in Africa, October 20, 2025: Zimbabwe Moves to Extend President’s Term, Thousands Attend Raila Odinga’s Burial, Nigeria Marks Five Years Since Lekki Massacre - OkayAfrica (Okayafrica)

● Nigeria Commits to Boosting Soil Health for Food Security - CGIAR (Cgiar)

● Hamas Meets Qatar, Egypt Officials In Cairo To Discuss Gaza Ceasefire - NDTV (Ndtv)

● Nigerian gas-powered rail freight plans under development (Railway Gazette International)

● Forum Energy Technologies supplying two upgraded ROVs for operations offshore Nigeria (Offshore Magazine)

Middle East

● Israel continues deadly Gaza truce breaches as US seeks to strengthen deal (Al Jazeera)

● US envoys visit Israel to bolster truce, and Gaza militants hand over a hostage’s remains - AP News (Ap News)

● Israel will disarm Hamas and demilitarise Gaza, says Netanyahu (The Guardian)

● Israel receives body Hamas says is Gaza hostage (BBC)

● Israel resumes ceasefire in Gaza and says aid deliveries will restart Monday - AP News (Ap News)

● UN nuclear watchdog believes most of Iran’s enriched uranium unharmed by war with Israel - The Times of Israel (The Times Of Israel)

● Russia prepared to expand ties with Iran in all areas, the Kremlin says (Reuters)

Indo-Pacific

● Albanese at the White House: Trump endorses Aukus, signs $8.5bn rare earths deal and calls PM ‘great leader’ (The Guardian)

● BREAKING NEWS: Ishiba Cabinet resigns en masse ahead of Diet vote to elect next Japan PM - Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS (Japan Wire By Kyodo News)

● China's economic growth slows as trade tensions with US flare up (BBC)

● South Korea police seek warrants for 58 repatriated scam centre suspects (Al Jazeera)

● Path clears for Takaichi to become PM as LDP and JIP agree to form coalition (The Japan Times)

● Australia news live: Gina Rinehart among beneficiaries of Australia-US deal as rare earth stocks soar (The Guardian)

● China just proved it can cripple the US military in days. Now Trump is furious (The Telegraph)

● US and Australia sign rare earths deal to counter China's dominance (BBC)

● China is well positioned for a trade showdown with Trump (Financial Times)

● Australia's PM Albanese and Trump sign rare earths deal as US confirms Aukus defence agreement (BBC)

Europe

● UK drafting powers to shoot down drones over military bases (Reuters)

● China criticises UK for delaying ruling on new embassy (Reuters)

● The Guardian view on Ukraine peace talks: Europe must ensure Zelenskyy can resist Trump’s bullying | Editorial (The Guardian)

● Amazon web services return to 'normal operations' after mass outage, tech giant says (BBC)

● EU moves to ban Russian energy imports by 2028 (Al Jazeera)

● Blindness cured with ‘revolutionary’ bionic chip (The Telegraph)

● Increased Risk of UK Sanctions Enforcement–An Analysis of Recent Sanctions Enforcement Action in the United Kingdom (The National Law Review)

● French Army chief Schill sees Europe facing empires, vassals, war (Defense News)

● Britain needs reliable and affordable energy to achieve its growth ambitions (The Telegraph)

● Prince Andrew tried to hire ‘internet trolls’ to hassle Virginia Giuffre, book claims (The Guardian)

● UK royals face pressure to strip Prince Andrew of titles after new revelations about his Epstein ties - PBS (Pbs)

Latin America

• Centrist Rodrigo Paz wins Bolivian presidency, ending nearly 20 years of leftist rule (Reuters)

• Brazil's Lula taps Guilherme Boulos as secretary of the presidency (Reuters)

• Ecuador says no evidence to detain survivor of US strike on suspected drug vessel (Reuters)

• Belize signs ‘safe third country’ agreement as part of Trump’s immigration crackdown (AP)

• Lime growers’ leader in Mexico killed after denouncing cartel extortion (AP)

• Trump calls Colombia’s Petro an ‘illegal drug leader’ and announces tariffs and an end to US aid (AP)

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