South Korea warns of financial crisis over US demands, while Iran halts UN nuclear cooperation amid rising global tensions.

Good Morning,

In a series of significant geopolitical developments, South Korea's President Lee has expressed concerns that US investment demands could lead to a financial crisis, while also indicating a willingness to accept a Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea's nuclear program as an emergency measure. Meanwhile, Iran has announced it will suspend cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, escalating tensions in the region. In the US, Democrats warn that former President Trump's actions against critics could steer the country toward dictatorship. Additionally, a BBC investigation reveals a Russian-funded fake news network aiming to disrupt European elections, and the EU plans to block Big Tech from a new financial data sharing system.

Top Stories

● Exclusive: South Korea's President Lee says US investment demands would spark financial crisis (Reuters)

● Trump drive to pursue critics puts US on path to dictatorship, Democrats warn (The Guardian)

● South Korea would accept a Trump-Kim deal to freeze nuclear programme as 'emergency measure' (BBC)

● Iran says it will suspend cooperation with UN’s nuclear watchdog (Al Jazeera)

● Kenya’s arrest warrant is milestone in Agnes Wanjiru case but lengthy UK process awaits (The Guardian)

United States

● Trump urges justice department to prosecute political opponents (BBC)

● Trump joins thousands at memorial for right-wing US activist Charlie Kirk (Al Jazeera)

● 'Fast and furious': H-1B workers abroad race to US as Trump order sparks dismay, confusion (Reuters)

● H-1B: Man spent $8,000 on flights to get back to the US after visa fears (BBC)

● Trump says he is appointing Lindsey Halligan, one of his former attorneys, to lead key prosecutor's office - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos (Abc News Breaking News, Latest News And Videos)

● Trump to impose $100,000 fee per year for H-1B visas, in blow to tech (Reuters)

● Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend - NBC News (Nbc News)

Africa

● Cairo's Sinai military action to prevent Gaza war spillage (The Jerusalem Post)

● Anger in Egypt after pharaoh’s gold bracelet stolen from a Cairo museum is melted down - AP News (Ap News)

● CEO of CPPE tasks Nigerian govt on tackling current wave of insecurity - APAnews - Agence de Presse Africaine (Apanews Agence De Presse Africaine)

● Agnes Wanjiru: 'The British Army cannot keep ignoring the murder of our friend' (BBC)

● To find their next great runners, U.S. colleges look to rural Kenya (The Washington Post)

● From Finidi to Osimhen: Nigerians who made the Ballon d’Or shortlist (Punch Newspapers)

● Unilever Egypt, Egyptian Food Bank launch water stewardship project in Matrouh (Dailynewsegypt)

● Egypt, Singapore explore strategic cooperation in investment, digital transformation (Dailynewsegypt)

● Official: Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Key Steps, Next Phases Set to Accelerate (Morocco World News)ast

Indo-Pacific

• ● Australia news live: Wells warns telcos there are ‘no excuses’ for triple zero failure; Sydney trains to ban some ebikes (The Guardian)

• ● China extends Covid whistleblower’s prison sentence for ‘provoking trouble’ (The Telegraph)

  ● GST: Modi's tax cuts will give India a festive spending boost (BBC)

  ● Protesters flood streets of Philippines over state corruption (The Guardian)

  ● Protesters throw rocks at police at anti-corruption rally in Philippines (The Telegraph)

  ● From zero to neo-Nazis: what under-16s may see under Australia’s social media ban, simply by not logging in (The Guardian)

  ● US House members make rare China visit amid trade, TikTok tensions (Al Jazeera)

  ● ‘I’d rather be bored than in danger’: Muslim women change how they behave in public because of racist attacks in Australia (The Guardian)

  ● Clashes, arrests as tens of thousands protest corruption in Philippines (Al Jazeera)

  ● The child’s first phone dilemma: ‘Parents need to get really involved in this’ (The Guardian)

Europe

● EU’s Chat Control law would push users toward ‘Web3 alternatives’ — Experts (Cointelegraph)

● Germany scrambles jets after Russia military aircraft flies over Baltic Sea (Al Jazeera)

● How Russian-funded fake news network aims to disrupt European election investigation (BBC)

● Wealth tax would be deadly for French economy, says Europe’s richest man (The Guardian)

● Badenoch slams UK’s Palestine recognition decision as ‘absolutely disastrous’ (Punch Newspapers)

● EU to block Big Tech from new financial data sharing system (Financial Times)

● Starmer announces formal UK recognition of Palestinian state (BBC)

● UK, Canada and Australia recognise Palestinian state but Netanyahu says it 'will not happen' (BBC)

● Israel bristles as UK leads Western recognition of Palestine (Al Jazeera)

● U.K., Canada, Australia recognize Palestine as a state, breaking with U.S. (The Washington Post)

● US, Ireland, Belgium, and the UK Experience Travel Turmoil as Aer Lingus Cancels 10 Flights Amid Cyberattack, Distressing Passengers at Chicago O’Hare, Dublin, Brussels, and Other Airports (Travel And Tour World)

● Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal Recognize a Palestinian State (The New York Times)

Latin America

• Maduro offers direct talks with Trump envoy Grenell (Reuters)

• Brazillian protests break out to protest Bolsonaro (Reuters)

• Ecuador to vote in November on whether to allow foreign military bases (Reuters)

• Tropical storm forms off Mexico (AP)

• Venezuelan president has youtube account yanked amidst tensions with the US (AP)

• Dom. Republic says it seized cocaine that was on speedboat destroyed by US Navy (AP)

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