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Trump addresses the Israeli Knesset as new details emerge on Netanyahu’s bid to revive Israel’s image through paid influencers and AI campaigns. In Africa, Biya is poised to extend his four-decade rule in Cameroon, while Madagascar’s president has fled the country amid unrest.

Our lead story turns to Canberra, where AUKUS and the uncertain future of the U.S.–Australia alliance takes centre stage.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇮🇱 🇺🇸 Trump addresses Israeli Knesset: US President Donald Trump declared before the Israeli Knesset that “the long and painful nightmare is finally over,” celebrating the Gaza ceasefire he brokered between Israel and Hamas as a turning point for the region. Marking the first address by a US president to Israel’s parliament since 2008, Trump described the agreement as “the dawn of a new Middle East.”

2️⃣ 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 Russian casualties in Ukraine soar as recruitment struggles intensify: Leaked Russian military data obtained by Ukrainian intelligence suggests Moscow lost over 281,000 troops in the first eight months of 2025 — a staggering figure that underscores the human cost of minimal territorial gains. Analysts from Frontelligence Insight and other open-source intelligence groups believe the figures broadly align with independent estimates.

3️⃣ 🇲🇬 Madagascar’s president flees country: Andry Rajoelina was flown out of Antananarivo on a French military aircraft hours before a planned televised address, following a deal with Paris as unrest surged. Thousands of protesters and elements of the elite Capsat unit have taken to the streets demanding Rajoelina’s resignation over corruption and service failures.

4️⃣ 🇨🇲 Biya expected to extend four-decade rule as Cameroon votes: Cameroonians voted on Sunday in an election almost certain to deliver another victory for 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country since 1982. If re-elected, Biya—already Africa’s longest-serving leader—will remain in power until the age of 99, presiding over a nation beset by armed conflict, poverty, and economic stagnation.

5️⃣ 🇦🇫 🇵🇰 TTP renews insurgency across Pakistan’s borderlands: A wave of deadly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks has reignited instability across Pakistan’s north-western frontier, posing one of the gravest security threats to Islamabad in years. Pakistan was accused of conducting airstrikes inside Afghanistan, allegedly targeting TTP leaders.

Major Story

🇦🇺 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 AUKUS AND THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF THE U.S.-AUSTRALIA ALLIANCE

Australia finds itself in a strategic bind as President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda reshapes U.S. alliances. While Canberra’s trade ties with China remain indispensable, its defence establishment continues to view Beijing as the country’s principal threat. This anxiety has long anchored Australia’s reliance on U.S. security guarantees—a dependency now embodied in the AUKUS pact with Washington and London. Yet, under Trump, that partnership faces growing uncertainty. AUKUS, announced in 2021, was designed to give Australia access to advanced defence technologies—including quantum computing, cyber capabilities, and most significantly, nuclear-powered submarines. The submarines were intended to replace Australia’s aging diesel fleet and enhance its ability to operate alongside U.S. forces in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. However, Trump’s Pentagon has launched a review to assess whether AUKUS aligns with U.S. interests, fuelling fears that Washington may withdraw from the deal altogether.

Strategic Doubts and Political Pressures

The submarine agreement has become a test of trust. Australia wants guarantees that the United States will deliver its promised Virginia-class submarines, while Washington expects Canberra to commit those vessels to any potential conflict with China. The U.S. industrial base, already overstretched, may struggle to supply the submarines without weakening its own naval capacity. For Canberra, the risk is existential: it could end up spending over $240 billion for a fleet that never materialises, leaving the country’s maritime defences hollow.

Domestically, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government remains wary of appearing soft on national security, even as public support for AUKUS wanes. Critics—including former prime ministers Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull—warn that the deal sacrifices sovereignty, drains defence budgets, and ties Australia too tightly to U.S. war planning. Washington, meanwhile, views Labour’s cautious rapprochement with Beijing as a sign of strategic hesitation.

Diverging Paths

The strain on AUKUS reveals a deeper misalignment. While Washington expects allies to align unequivocally against China, Canberra is reluctant to risk its economic stability or be drawn into a regional war. For the United States, Australia is a vital staging ground; for Australia, America remains both protector and potential liability. The outcome of the AUKUS review will determine not only the fate of a submarine fleet but also whether the century-old alliance can adapt to a more transactional, unpredictable U.S. foreign policy.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Netanyahu turns to influencers and AI in bid to salvage Israel’s global image: A confidential meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister and pro-Israel influencers has exposed a multimillion-dollar campaign to rehabilitate Tel Aviv’s global reputation amid international outrage over war crimes in Gaza. Alongside influencer partnerships, Israel has also enlisted tech firms, including ChatGPT,  to adopt pro-Israel narratives, underscoring Tel Aviv’s widening battle for control over public perception in the digital age.

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