Trump administration declares war on drug cartels, Iran considers moving capital amid water crisis, and China-linked cyber threats target law firms.

Good Morning,

The Trump administration has informed Congress of its determination that the U.S. is now engaged in a formal armed conflict with terrorist drug cartels. Meanwhile, the U.S. government shutdown persists, with warnings of potential layoffs and funding cuts affecting Democratic states. In the Middle East, Iran's president has suggested relocating the capital from Tehran due to a worsening water crisis, and Hamas has announced plans to respond to Trump's proposal to end the Gaza conflict. Additionally, tensions rise as Google warns of a China-linked cyber campaign targeting law firms, and Putin issues a stern warning against Europe's militarization.

Top Stories

● Trump admin tells Congress it determined US engaged in formal 'armed conflict' with 'terrorist' drug cartels (Fox News)

● Live updates: Government shutdown extends, Trump administration warns of layoffs | CNN Politics (CNN)

● Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told (The New York Times)

● Iran must move its capital from Tehran, says president as water crisis worsens (The Guardian)

● China-linked cyber campaign targeting law firms, warns Google (Insurance Business America)

United States

● Trump declares U.S. in ‘non-international armed conflict’ with drug cartels - PBS (Pbs)

● White House freezes funds for Democratic states in shutdown slap (Reuters)

● US government shutdown continues, as Trump cuts funds for Democratic states (Al Jazeera)

● Fact check: US 2025 government shutdown talking points (Al Jazeera)

● Live updates: Democrats stand firm on healthcare demands as Trump says shutdown can 'clear out dead wood' (BBC)

Africa

● Hamas says it will respond ‘soon’ to Trump’s proposal to end Gaza war (Al Jazeera)

● No, Bill Maher, there is no ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria (Al Jazeera)

● AFRICA-FX-Nigeria's currency could rise and Ghana's fall (Reuters)

● Kenya and Zambia battle mpox spikes as African countries manage multiple health threats - CIDRAP (Cidrap)

● Transcript: Nigeria’s pivot to solar power (Financial Times)

● Kenyan activists abducted in Uganda, Bobi Wine says (BBC)

● US-Africa deportations: Sent to Ghana and then transferred - the Nigerian stranded in Togo (BBC)

● Egyptian FM warns Gaza war will further escalate if Hamas rejects US plan, which he says has 'lot of holes' - The Times of Israel (The Times Of Israel)

● Warning about WhatsApp voice notes in South Africa (Business Tech)

● Kenya president vows more 'professionalism' in anti-doping agency - supersport.com (Supersport)

Middle East

● What to know about the international flotilla seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza - AP News (Ap News)

● Israel threatens all staying in Gaza City, kills at least 53 in enclave (Al Jazeera)

● Greta Thunberg among activists detained as Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla (BBC)

● With Iran under pressure, fears grow of new Israeli strikes (The Washington Post)

● Cuomo declines to say whether Israel is committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza (The Hill)

● Iraqi exports trending up as Ceyhan loadings resume (Iraq Oil Report)

● Iraq advances LNG terminal and plans oil production increase to 5.5 mb/d (Enerdata)

Indo-Pacific

● China’s fifth-ranking official was suspect in dropped Westminster spy case (The Guardian)

● Morning Mail: Nauru asylum seekers ‘going hungry’, ATO hunt for old debts, UK synagogue attack (The Guardian)

● Japan days away from running out of Asahi Super Dry after cyber attack (Financial Times)

● PNG approves delayed defence treaty with Australia – as it happened (The Guardian)

● China’s reported BHP iron ore ban has wide-ranging ramifications. Here’s what to know (The Guardian)

● Secolve celebrates fifth anniversary with 100th global customer, eyes growth in Australian OT cybersecurity market (Industrial Cyber)

● RSS: India's most powerful Hindu nationalist organisation marks centenary (BBC)

● South Korea president apologises for abusive foreign adoption scheme (Al Jazeera)

● Philippines earthquake: Scared survivors sleep in fields as death toll rises (BBC)

● Study warns up to a quarter of Philippine vertebrates risk extinction (Mongabay)

● Ladakh: 'Broken promises' and violence push Himalayan beauty spot to the edge (BBC)

Europe

● What to know about the international flotilla seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza - AP News (Ap News)

● 'Where am I safe?': UK court ruling leaves trans people's lives in turmoil (Reuters)

● Two Killed in Terrorist Attack on Manchester Synagogue on Yom Kippur: Live Updates (The New York Times)

● Putin warns of harsh response to ‘Europe’s militarisation’ (Al Jazeera)

● UK weather: Storm Amy amber warning issued by Met Office for rain, wind (BBC)

● Defeat of Ukraine would embolden China towards Taiwan, Taiwanese officer says in Poland (Reuters)

● US to give Ukraine intelligence on long-range energy targets in Russia (Reuters)

● As Russian Drones Menace Europe, Putin Says Moscow Has No Plans to Invade (The New York Times)

● Denmark loses £1.4bn tax fraud claim in UK court case (BBC)

● Knife attack alarms UK Jews already dealing with rising antisemitism (Reuters)

● UK gov’t demand to access Apple users’ data raises civil liberties issues (Al Jazeera)

● Synagogue attack on Yom Kippur kills two in UK's Manchester; suspect shot dead (Reuters)

Latin America

• Brazil’s lower house approves an increase in tax exemptions for low-income people (AP)

• Trump says US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean (AP)

• Haitians give cautious welcome to new international force approved by UN to tackle gangs (AP)

• Chilean wines boom in Brazil as tariffs dampen US demand (Reuters)

• Argentina's Milei suffers veto overrides again, a blow before consequential midterms (Reuters)

• Brazil poised to lead global robusta coffee farming on expansion potential, report says (Reuters)

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