North Korea's new missile test sends shockwaves through Indo-Pacific relations
North Korea just tested its longest-flying missile ever while sending troops to help Russia in Ukraine. Multiple peace talks start in Middle East as Taiwan deals with strongest typhoon in decades
Kim Jong Unʼs latest missile show-off got everyone on edge: the new ICBM flew for 87 mins (way longer than last winters test) and splashed near Japan. The thing went super-high – about 4‚350 miles up which means it could reach pretty much anywhere in US
It only demonstrates that [North Korea] continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people
South Korea isnt happy about their neighbor sending 10‚000-plus troops to Russia; they think Kim is trading soldiers for tech stuff like nuclear weapons and submarines. The timing looks planned too – right when US-South Korea talks were happening in DC
Meanwhile the Middle-East is getting lots of peace-talk action: US sent some big-shots to work things out. Thereʼs a whole bunch of ideas floating around:
- 60-day stop-fighting plan for Lebanon
- 3-day quick-break option
- Special deal to swap hostages
- 48-hour pause backed by Egypt
Taiwan got hit with its worst storm in 30 years – typhoon Kong-rey brought super-strong winds that knocked-out power for 500‚000 homes. One persons dead‚ 200-plus hurt‚ and they had to move 11‚900 people to safety (the armyʼs got 36‚000 troops ready to help)
Over in UK‚ the Labour Party dropped their first budget-bomb since taking over this summer: theyre adding £52 billion in taxes to fix up public stuff. Rachel Reeves‚ their money-boss says rich folks will pay most of it‚ but markets dont seem too happy
And heres something funny: Russia just fined Google more money than exists in the whole world – some crazy 37-digit number. Even the Kremlin admits its just for show (good thing cause nobody could ever pay that)
