“Canada and the Philippines, both staunch critics of China’s increasingly coercive actions in the disputed South China Sea, were to sign a key defense agreement on Sunday that would allow their forces to hold joint battle-readiness drills and expand a web of security alliances to deter aggression, Philippine officials said. Canada and other Western nations have been bolstering their military presence in the Indo-Pacific to help promote the rule of law and expand trade and investment in the region. The moves dovetail with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s efforts to build defense ties with other countries to help his country’s underfunded military face a militarily superior China in the disputed waters. There was no immediate comment from China, which has accused the Philippines of being ‘a troublemaker’ and ‘a saboteur of regional stability’ for staging joint patrols and combat drills with the United States and other countries in the South China Sea.” (11/01/25)
“Two British men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with a stabbing rampage on a London-bound train that sent 11 people to the hospital with serious injuries, the police said Sunday morning. Officials said they did not believe the attack was terrorism related, but offered no potential motive for the spree on Saturday evening, which forced a commuter train from northern England to make an emergency stop. Of the 11 wounded, four have been discharged from the hospital but two remain in ‘life-threatening condition,’ officials said on Sunday. The police said the suspects, a 32-year-old and a 35-year-old, are British nationals who were born in the United Kingdom.” (11/02/25)
“A deadly shooting unfolded in Texas Friday when an off-duty Harris County deputy opened fire on a man who allegedly tried to get into his car, as his young child sat just feet away. The shooting happened at about 2:45 p.m. Friday in Atascocita, about 20 miles northeast of downtown Houston, after an off-duty deputy called 911 to tell them he had someone at gunpoint, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Maj. Ben Katrib said the deputy had just placed his child in a car seat when an unknown man, later identified as Darrius Williams, 27, allegedly attempted to get into his car. The deputy was heard giving multiple verbal commands to Williams, but he allegedly ignored the warnings and opened the passenger door of the deputy’s car. Katrib said the deputy opened fire, hitting Williams multiple times.” (11/01/25)
“The FBI, local and university police are investigating an ‘intentional’ explosion that occurred early Saturday morning on the fourth floor of the Harvard Medical School building in Boston. The explosion occurred at 2:48 a.m. EDT in the medical school’s Goldenson Building and triggered a fire alarm that alerted university police, The New York Times reported. A Harvard University Police officer responded to the building at 220 Longwood Ave. and saw two individuals running from it. The officer tried to stop the individuals but could not and then found evidence of an explosion on the fourth floor, according to The Boston Globe. … No one was injured during the incident, and the FBI is assisting with the investigation.” (11/01/25)
“U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he has asked the Defense Department to prepare for possible ‘fast’ military action in Nigeria if the West African nation fails to crack down on the killing of Christians. The U.S. government will also immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. If the United States sends in military forces, it would go in ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to ‘completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,’ Trump wrote, without providing any evidence of specifics about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria.” (11/01/25)
“Tehran will rebuild its nuclear facilities ‘with greater strength,’ Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told state media on Sunday, adding that the country does not seek a nuclear weapon. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that he would order fresh attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites should Tehran try to restart facilities that the United States bombed in June. Pezeshkian made his comments during a visit to the country’s Atomic Energy Organization, during which he met with senior managers from Iran’s nuclear industry.” (11/02/25)
“U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that Washington and Beijing would establish military-to-military communications channels, adding that bilateral ties between the countries have ‘never been better.’ Hegseth said he spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, late Saturday on the sidelines of a regional security meeting and that they agreed that ‘peace, stability and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries.’ His remarks posted on X came hours after he urged Southeast Asian nations to stand firm and strengthen their maritime forces to counter China’s increasingly ‘destabilizing’ actions in the South China Sea. ‘China’s sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea fly in the face of their commitments to resolve disputes peacefully,’ Hegseth said at a meeting with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Saturday.” (11/01/25)
“California clean-air officials have ended the statewide electric-bike program that was badly botched by a San Diego nonprofit and left thousands of applicants frustrated and angry. In a statement, the California Air Resources Board blamed ‘budget constraints’ for closing out what was called the California E-Bike Incentive Project, which got more than $30 million to support subsidies of up to $2,000 for thousands of eligible riders. Most of the e-bike funds were diverted to another state climate-change program that is designed to help lower-income Californians replace their high-polluting cars with plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. … The San Diego Union-Tribune first reported in June 2024 that the SANDAG e-bike initiative was troubled. Agency officials had begun investigating Pedal Ahead early last year for failing to comply with terms of the grant it had been awarded two years earlier.” (11/01/25)
“Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he has apologised to US President Donald Trump over an anti-tariff advertisement which had used a Ronald Reagan quote. Last week, in response to the advert, Trump suspended trade talks with Canada and said he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports. ‘I did apologise to the president,’ Carney told reporters at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea on Saturday. The commercial used a series of clips from former President Reagan’s 1987 national radio address, in which he argued that tariffs would hurt America’s economy.” (11/01/25)
“An Israeli air strike has killed at least four people in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s Ministry of Public Health, in an attack that put more pressure on a nearly yearlong truce with Hezbollah. In a statement on Saturday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said the Israeli attack in the town of Kfarsir in the Nabatieh district also wounded three. The state-run Lebanon News Agency reported that the strike, which involved a ‘guided missile,’ targeted a car at about 2:15pm (16:15 GMT). The attack came a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of escalating strikes in response to his offer to negotiate a more lasting end to the cross-border attacks. … Despite the truce, Israel has kept troops in five areas of southern Lebanon and has continued near-daily air raids, repeatedly violating the truce. Israel claims it is targeting Hezbollah, but civilians, first responders and journalists have also been killed.” (11/02/25)
