Chinese espionage in Taiwan, European strategies against Russia, Aliyev's China visit, and Hegseth's security breach controversy.

Good Morning,

Recent global developments highlight tensions and strategic maneuvers across various regions. In Asia, Chinese espionage efforts are reportedly aimed at destabilizing Taiwan, raising concerns about regional security. Meanwhile, in Europe, discussions continue on how best to deter Russian aggression, with opinions suggesting that deploying troops to Ukraine may not be the most effective strategy. In diplomatic news, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev is set to visit China, potentially strengthening ties between the two countries. In the United States, Pete Hegseth faces intense scrutiny and calls for resignation after being implicated in leaking classified military information, raising national security concerns and sparking criticism from political figures.

Top Stories

• Xi’s espionage invasion: Chinese spies seek to topple Taiwan (www.thetimes.com)

• How Europe Can Deter Russia: Deploying Troops to Ukraine Is Not the Answer (www.foreignaffairs.com)

• Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev to visit China (www.aa.com.tr)

• NPR: The White House is looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. (www.npr.org)

• First House Republican calls for Pete Hegseth's ouster (www.axios.com)

• Lebanese authorities detain people they say were planning rocket attacks on Israel (apnews.com)

• Chinese Nationals Fighting in Ukraine? The Truth Behind the Headlines (geowire.in)

• South Korea uncovers ‘Made in Korea’ breaches intended to avoid US tariffs (www.straitstimes.com)

United States

• First House Republican calls for Pete Hegseth's ouster (www.axios.com)

• Joe Rogan Turns on Trump, Questions Abrego Garcia's Deportation Without Due Process: 'We Got To Be Careful That We Don't Become Monsters' (www.latintimes.com)

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s bag, including $3,000 in cash, is stolen from DC restaurant (www.cnn.com)

• ‘Full-blown meltdown’ at Pentagon after Pete Hegseth’s second Signal chat revealed (www.theguardian.com)

• Breakdown in U.S.-China Relations Raises Specter of New Cold War (www.wsj.com)

Africa

• How Big Tech hides its outsourced African workforce (restofworld.org)

• African cardinals in spotlight after Pope Francis' death (www.newsweek.com)

• Analysis: How to reform Africa's top development bank as it votes for a new president (www.semafor.com)

• DR Congo suspends ex-President Kabila’s party over alleged M23 links (aljazeera.com)

• Sudan’s paramilitaries kill more than 30 in a new attack on a Darfur city, activists say (apnews.com)

Middle East

• US bolsters Israel with airlift amid regional threats (www.newsweek.com)

• With Assad gone and Syria's war over, the White Helmets have a new mission (www.npr.org)

• Gaza rescue service dismisses Israeli probe into killing of medics as a ‘fabricated investigation’ (apnews.com)

• US airstrikes killed 12 people in Yemen’s capital, the Houthi rebels say (apnews.com)

Indo-Pacific

• Why India's roads are among the world's deadliest (www.bbc.co.uk)

• Early voting in Australia election begins, PM Albanese's party holds slender lead (reuters.com)

• China to retaliate with sanctions on US officials, NGO leaders over Hong Kong issues (apnews.com)

• Exclusive: Huawei readies new AI chip for mass shipment as China seeks Nvidia alternatives, sources say (reuters.com)

• Vance and Modi meet in New Delhi to discuss trade deal and avoid US tariffs (apnews.com)

Europe

• Pope died of a stroke and heart failure, Vatican doctor says (www.reuters.com)

• Ekrem Imamoglu: Erdogan's end has appeared (www.ekonomim.com)

• According to the French Space Command, France is monitoring three new Russian satellites, one of which has released a mysterious object. (www.leparisien.fr)

• Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope? (apnews.com)

• Putin says he is open to direct peace talks with Ukraine (reuters.com)

Latin America

• 3 Haitian soldiers warring with gangs are slain outside of Port-au-Prince (abcnews.com)

• US invokes RICO law in charging more alleged Venezuelan gang members (reuters.com)

• Puerto Rico’s government demands answers from energy company after island-wide blackout (apnews.com)

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