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Lula rebukes Trump at UN, warns of rising ‘anti-democratic forces’; Nigeria’s Dangote refinery shifts global fuel trade; and Germany channels €83bn defence spending to European industry.

Our lead story returns to New York, where US President Donald Trump has delivered his address to the UN General Assembly.

This, and more, below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇳🇪 🇧🇫 🇲🇱 Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announce International Criminal Court withdrawal: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have withdrawn from the International Criminal Court, calling it a "neo-colonial" imperialist tool. The respective governing juntas formed the Alliance of Sahel States after coups between 2020 and 2023, distancing themselves from the West. Amnesty International regards this move as a blow to victims seeking justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The group stressed that withdrawal would not halt Mali’s ongoing ICC investigation but would deny future victims access to international justice if domestic remedies fail.

2️⃣ 🇨🇿 🇷🇺 Czech election flooded with pro-Russian disinformation as Babiš leads in polls: Czechia faces a pivotal election on 3–4 October, with Prime Minister Petr Fiala framing the vote as a choice between remaining a pro-Western democracy or drifting toward Moscow’s orbit. Populist frontrunner Andrej Babiš has called for compromise with Russia and pledged to end Prague’s ammunition initiative for Ukraine, raising fears he could join Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico in undermining EU unity. Analysts warn that pro-Russian disinformation has surged to record levels—spreading conspiracy theories, questioning the legitimacy of the vote, and seeking to erode trust in Czech democracy.

3️⃣ 🇸🇬 🇲🇾 🇮🇩 Piracy surge in Malacca and Singapore Straits threatens global shipping lanes: Piracy and armed robbery incidents in Asian waters surged 83% in the first half of 2025, with most attacks concentrated in the Malacca and Singapore Straits, vital arteries for global trade carrying coal, gas, and other exports. Experts say the raids are mostly small-scale “grab-and-go” operations by locals or organised gangs targeting bulk carriers, stealing easily resold spare parts. While joint patrols by Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand are underway, analysts warn that persistent under-reporting and economic hardship in Indonesia’s Riau Islands risk fuelling further attacks, potentially raising shipping costs and insurance premiums worldwide.

4️⃣ 🇧🇩 🇨🇳 Bangladesh tilts toward China: Since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in 2024, Bangladesh has undergone a dramatic political and foreign policy reset under interim leader Muhammad Yunus. His government has barred the Awami League from contesting the 2026 elections while allowing the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami to re-enter politics, with the BNP emerging as the likely frontrunner. Yunus has pivoted Dhaka away from its traditionally close ties with India, strengthening relations with China and Pakistan through major trade, security, and diplomatic initiatives.

5️⃣ 🇩🇪 🇺🇸 Germany prioritises European industry in €83bn defence procurement plan: Germany’s new procurement blueprint channels nearly €83bn in defence contracts largely toward European suppliers, with only 8% allocated to U.S. weapons—a shift away from Berlin’s recent status as one of Washington’s top arms buyers. Big-ticket American purchases include Raytheon’s Patriot missile systems and Boeing torpedoes. The plan underscores Berlin’s focus on strengthening domestic and European industry, signalling a more independent course even as Donald Trump pressures NATO allies to keep buying U.S. arms.

Major Story

🇺🇳 🇺🇸 TRUMP ADDRESSES THE UN

Donald Trump used his UN General Assembly address less to engage with global diplomacy than to deliver a blistering rebuke of Europe. In a speech laced with populist language, he accused European leaders of “destroying their own countries” through immigration, climate policies, and political correctness. He warned that Europe was “going to hell,” blasted the green energy agenda as “on the brink of destruction,” and mocked European funding for Ukraine as “funding the war against themselves.”

Populist Themes and Domestic Audience

Trump’s remarks were closer to a campaign rally than a foreign policy statement, touting his domestic achievements before pivoting to condemn European leaders. He called London’s mayor “terrible,” invoked the spectre of “Sharia law,” and cited dubious statistics on immigration and crime in Germany and Switzerland. Analysts noted that the speech seemed aimed at energising his US political base rather than engaging constructively with world leaders, who largely endured the tirade in silence.

Echoes of Vance’s Munich Address

Observers compared Trump’s remarks to US Vice-President JD Vance’s combative speech at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, which similarly accused Europe of betraying its voters by “opening the floodgates” to migration. Trump stopped short of mentioning voters but accused European leaders of “destroying your heritage” for the sake of political correctness, signalling a White House intent on picking fights with its allies rather than repairing transatlantic ties.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇧🇷 Lula takes swipe at Trump in UN speech, warns against ‘anti-democratic forces’: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his UN General Assembly address to champion Brazil’s democracy after the conviction of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who received a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup. Lula denounced Washington’s punitive tariffs and sanctions—including visa bans and Magnitsky measures against Brazilian officials—as an attack on judicial independence and national sovereignty. Despite US criticism of alleged repression, Lula’s defiant stance and mass pro-democracy rallies at home have buoyed his approval ratings.

2️⃣ 🇮🇱 🇾🇪 Israeli defense minister Katz vows that Israel's flag would one day 'fly over Yemen': Following Houthi drone and missile strikes on southern Israel, including a hit on a hotel in Eilat, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to assassinate Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, vowing that his death is imminent. Katz declared that Israel’s flag would one day fly over Sanaa, Yemen's capital. The IDF reported intercepting two additional drones and a ballistic missile.

3️⃣ 🇳🇬 Dangote refinery reshapes global fuel flows: Nigeria’s $19 billion Dangote refinery has sent its first gasoline cargo to the U.S., with Vitol delivering 320,000 barrels to Sunoco’s New Jersey terminal, confirming the refinery meets strict U.S. fuel standards. The refinery is poised to transform Nigeria from a fuel importer to a major exporter, bolstering West Africa’s influence over Atlantic Basin energy trade and diversifying U.S. fuel supply at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Production will briefly pause for maintenance before resuming its expansion into global markets.

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