**China**
Japan To Challenge Chinese Imperialism
Japan has announced they will be assisting the US in challenging Chinese claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea through Freedom of Navigation Operations and funding to local states such as the Philippines and Vietnam. This comes after an announcement the US will be shifting 60% of the fleet to the Pacific by 2020. It is speculated this may be part of a new alliance to be composed of the US, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
China to Build Nuclear Power Plant in Essex
On the one hand, building new nuclear power plants is a great idea for Britain. On the other, China is funding close to a third of the cost. This will likely be used for industrial espionage and could provide a back-door into the computer networks which control the British grid. And that’s ignoring the enormity of the environmental damage which China’s lax industrial controls have created across the Chinese countryside.
China Launches Laboratory Module For Tiangong-2
Two Chinese astronauts are expected to arrive and carry out experiments by the end of October. Tiangong-2 is expected to remain in orbit for two years, and will be used to help China prepare for the construction of Tiangong-3 in the future. Tiangong-3 is expected to be the Chinese answer to the International Space Station.
Typhoon Meranti Makes Landfall, 10 Dead in China, 1 in Taiwan
Making landfall near Xiamen in Fujian province, Typhoon Meranti grazed the southern tip of Taiwan as it made landfall.
South Korea Preparring For War
With North Korea preparing for a third nuclear test in the coming week, South Korea has resumed propaganda broadcasts into the North and are stepping up THAAD Anti-BAllistic Missile deployments.
**Russia and Ukraine**
Russia Cuts Interest Rates
The Russian economy has been in a funk for several years now as a result of the oil supply boom and the sanctions resulting from adventurism in Ukraine. Desperate to replace the money lost from the weakening economy, the Russian Central Bank has cut interest rates.
Russia, Desperate to Reverse Population Shrinkage, Bans Porn
Roskomnadzor, the Russian government body in charge of censorship, has told the Russian public they need to go out and meet people instead. Russia has already implemented a program to pay people to have babies in the hopes of reversing their below-replacement-rate birth rate of 1.59.
**India and Pakistan**
Suicide Bomber Kills 25 at Mosque in Tribal Regions
JAmaat-ul-Ahra, a splinter group of the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack which killed 25 and wounded 33. This is part of the continuing nigh-Civil-War which Pakistan has been fighting since the US entered Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda.
India Raises Issue of Balochistan At UN
Pakistan has been hitting India on the subject of Kashmir for several months now, following the outbreak of mass protests and riots in the contested province following the killing of a terrorist who was popular in Kashmir. India has responded by raising the issue of Pakistan’s human rights record in Balochistan – Pakistan’s largest province – in the UN.
**Middle East**
Turkey Resumes Dirty War Against Kurds
The “Dirty War” was an ugly period in which Kurdish nationalism was enflamed as the Turks murdered thousands and disappeared far more. #HursitKulterNerede
Tensions Increasing Between Turkish Military and Kurdish YPG in Syria
Declaring the YPG to be elements of the PKK, the Turkish government has announced they will treat them as terrorists if the YPG does not return across the Euphrates and remain in Manbij. Syrian Kurds had previously been working to unite the Kurdish enclaves in the region under a single leadership in the hopes of establishing a Kurdish led pluralistic state in the region. Local Christians and Muslims in Manbij support the Kurdish leadership.
US, Iraq Begin Offensive Against Mosul
Expected to kick off in late October, Iraq and the US have intensified training and logistical stockpiling ahead of the attack. Iraqi forces are expected to begin liberating nearby towns and villages along major logistical lines soon. Iraqi and US airstrikes on Mosul are being accompanied by leaflet drops warning civilians to flee the city.
Saudi Arabia Buys Up American Oil Assets
Saudi investment is primarily focused on refining infrastructure, Motiva and LyondellBassell in particular. Saudi ARAMCO has also inked an exclusivity deal for Shell filling stations in Texas, Mississippi, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions, meaning that all profits from Shell stations in those regions will wind up Saudi coffers.
Saudi Arabia Admits to Funding Terrorism
Just in case anyone was wondering why the above story is important.
**Europe**
France, UK Begin Construction of Wall at Calais
Mayors Rally Against Calais Shutdown
After reports of the Socialist government’s plan to shutdown the Calais Jungle and scatter the migrants across France, mayors are rallying together in opposition to the closure. Considered one of the worse slums in Europe, Calais has been a center of violence, crime, sexual assault, and disease in France. Sarkozy, former Head of State of France and current leader of the opposition, has instead called on the French government to export the migrants to Britain.
With no functioning government and the economy teetering on the edge of a cliff, Spain is facing the possibility of another general election for parliament before the end of the year.
**Africa**
ISIS Ousts Boko Haram Leader
Boko Haram joined ISIS two years ago. Since then, ISIS has been quietly angry at Boko Haram for targeting Muslim villages which refused to join ISIS in northern Nigeria. Their new leader, Musab al-Barnawi, was chosen for the position by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi due to Barnawi’s frustration over Boko Haram’s refusal to target Christian villages, schools, and churches. Abubakr Shekau, the ousted leader, has declared Barnawi an apostate and refused to recognize Barnawi as the new leader of the ISIS affiliate. Boko Haram has thus fallen into civil war. Observers expect Shekau to win the conflict.
Somaliland Calls for Independence, Recognition
A de facto independent country since Somalia collapsed in 1991, Somaliland is currently seeking recognition as an independent nation.
**South America**
South American Governments Send Ultimatum To Maduro
Mercosur – a South American supra-national trading block founded by Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay – have sent an ultimatum demanding Maduro restore basic democratic and human rights in Venezuela by December 1 or be expelled from the trade block. This would be the first time Mercosur had expelled a nation while its Head of State was serving in the rotating presidency for the trade block.
