EU-Mexico Trade Progress; House GOP Tax Vote Sets 2026 Stakes; Syria Integrates Terrorist Elements as North Korea Tests Missiles

Good Morning,

The European Union moves closer to finalizing a comprehensive trade agreement with Mexico before year's end, while House Republicans cast crucial votes on tax and spending measures that will likely define campaign messaging heading into the next election cycle. Meanwhile, Syria's integration of Al Qaeda-linked fighters into government forces raises new counterterrorism concerns, North Korea continues its pattern of missile testing in regional waters, and diplomatic shifts reshape territorial disputes from the Indian Ocean to Eastern Europe as courts validate contested election results.

Top Stories

• EU-Mexico trade deal could be finalized before year-end, Italy's Tajani says - Reuters

• How House Republicans' big tax and spending vote will shape the next election - NBC

• Syrian military integrates Al Qaeda-linked terror group into its ranks - Long War Journal

• North Korea fires multiple cruise missiles toward East Sea: ROK military - NK News 

• UK signs deal to hand over Chagos Islands and lease back military base for £101m a year - BBC

• Romanian court validates presidential election, rejecting defeated candidate’s challenge to results - AP

United States

• How House Republicans' big tax and spending vote will shape the next election - NBC

• U.S. Completes Bilateral Naval Exercise Nautical Defender in Arabian Gulf - Navy

• Supreme Court grants Trump request to fire independent agency members, except the Fed - SCOTUS Blog

• GOP US Sen. Tommy Tuberville is expected to announce run for Alabama governor, associates say - AP

• Suspect charged with murder in fatal DC shooting of two Israel embassy aides - Reuters

Africa

• Kenya refugee camps face hunger crisis as WFP warns food aid could drop to 28pc - The Eastleigh Voice 

• UK signs deal to hand over Chagos Islands and lease back military base for £101m a year - BBC

• Climate Threat to Africa's Food Exports May Empty EU Shelves - AllAfrica

• Georja Calvin Smith sits down with South Africa's VP in Paris - France24

• Trump's image of dead 'white farmers' came from Reuters footage in Congo, not South Africa - Reuters

Middle East

• Governments condemn Israel for firing towards diplomats in West Bank - Al Jazeera

• Syrian military integrates Al Qaeda-linked terror group into its ranks - Long War Journal

• France 'determined' to recognise Palestinian state: foreign minister - France24

• Suspect charged with murder in fatal DC shooting of two Israel embassy aides - Reuters

• Why Canada is now directly confronting Israel - Middle East Eye

Indo-Pacific

• North Korea fires multiple cruise missiles toward East Sea: ROK military - NK News 

• Philippines’ Marcos calls for Cabinet resignations in ‘bold reset’ after mid-term elections - Malay Mail

• China eyes international help to resolve U.S. trade war - CBS

• Japan probes Chinese solar panels over hidden device fears, power disruptions - SCMP

• Death toll in Australia floods rises to four, tens of thousands stranded - Reuters

Europe

• Net migration to the UK has halved, latest figures show - Sky News

• France and China must jointly 'safeguard international trade rules', Xi tells Macron - France24

• Ireland’s Deputy Premier Accuses Israel of ‘Genocidal Activity’ in Gaza - The Independent

• Romanian court validates presidential election, rejecting defeated candidate’s challenge to results - AP

• UK signs deal to hand over Chagos Islands and lease back military base for £101m a year - BBC

Latin America

• Peru court rules in favor of Kichwa territorial rights in the Amazon - AP

• EU-Mexico trade deal could be finalized before year-end, Italy's Tajani says - Reuters

• Undocumented Migrants Keep Showing Up For Work Despite Increasing Threats of Deportations - Latin Times

• Even hippos, elephants and monkeys are fleeing bloody gang violence in Mexico’s Sinaloa province - CNN

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