Oil prices fall after US and China reach trade deal framework
King of Jordan believes international troops will be reluctant to enforce peace in Gaza
Fergal KeaneSpecial correspondent
Countries would reject being asked to “enforce” peace in Gaza if deployed under the Trump ceasefire plan, King Abdullah of Jordan has told the BBC.
Under US President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Arab states and international partners are to commit stabilisation forces that “will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field.” Hamas is to disarm and give up political control of the territory.
“What is the mandate of security forces inside of Gaza? And we hope that it is peacekeeping, because if it’s peace enforcing, nobody will want to touch that,” said King Abdullah.
In an exclusive interview for BBC Panorama, he said that Jordan and Egypt were willing to train Palestinian security forces.
“Peacekeeping is that you’re sitting there supporting the local police force, the Palestinians, which Jordan and Egypt are willing to train in large numbers, but that takes time. If we’re running around Gaza on patrol with weapons, that’s not a situation that any country would like to get involved in.”
The King’s comments reflect concern from the US and other nations about being dragged into a continuing conflict between Hamas and Israel, or Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
King Abdullah said he would not send Jordanian forces into Gaza because his country was “too close politically” to the situation. More than half of Jordan’s population is of Palestinian descent, and over decades, the country has taken in 2.3 million Palestinian refugees fleeing earlier wars with Israel – the largest number in the region.
Asked if he trusted Hamas to keep its promise to give up any political role in Gaza, he replied: “I don’t know them, but those that are working extremely close to them – Qatar and Egypt – feel very, very optimistic that they will abide by that.
“If we don’t solve this problem, if we don’t find a future for Israelis and Palestinians and a relationship between the Arab and Muslim world and Israel, we’re doomed.”
The main mediation efforts during the war have been carried out by Qatar and Egypt working with the United States.
The Jordanians have been part of an international effort trying to deliver aid to Gaza and evacuating sick and wounded children. The King has flown over the territory on three missions parachuting aid supplies.
“Looking over the back ramp was just shocking,” he said. “The devastation of that part of Gaza was just a shock to me.
“I’ve seen it myself, and how we, as the international community, are allowing this to happen is mind-boggling.”
The King asked for President Trump’s support to evacuate 2,000 seriously ill Palestinian children from Gaza. In a White House meeting with the Jordanian monarch in February, Mr Trump called it a “beautiful gesture”.
Since then, 253 children have been evacuated to Jordan. In all, more than 5,000 have been medically evacuated, most to Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. More than 15,000 Gazans are still awaiting evacuation, including about 3,000 children, according to the World Health Organization.
To get children and their guardians out of the territory they must undergo a comprehensive security check by Israel and host countries. The World Health Organization has described the process as “excruciatingly slow”. The Israeli military group which oversees aid for Gaza – Cogat – insists it places “great importance” on facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza, including the evacuation of patients with “complex medical conditions”. It stresses the necessity of security checks on individuals travelling through Israeli territory.
In her interview for Panorama, Jordan’s Queen Rania criticised the international community for, as she put it, failing to stop the war for two years.
“You know what it’s like to be a parent over the last two years? To watch your children suffering, starving, shaking in terror, and to be powerless to do anything about it, and to know that the whole world is watching and not to do anything about it. That nightmare, it’s the nightmare of any parent, but that nightmare has been the daily reality for Palestinians for the last two years.”
The Queen, who is of Palestinian descent, praised President Trump for his efforts to bring about the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. She said he had used America’s diplomatic, military and financial support as leverage on Israel.
“To his credit, Trump was the first president in a long time to actually apply pressure on Israel. Beforehand, when they crossed lines, the US president would just maybe just say a few words of rebuke or they just get a slap on the wrist. President Trump actually got [Israeli PM Benjamin] Netanyahu to actually agree to a ceasefire. And I hope that he continues to be engaged in this process.”
Israel repeatedly accused Hamas of prolonging the war with its refusal to release Israeli hostages, and said the organisation – proscribed as a terror group by the UK, US and EU – used civilians as human shields in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory, more than 68,000 people have been killed since Israel invaded Gaza.
Israel’s invasion followed the 7 October attack by Hamas in which more than 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage into Gaza. Since then, arrest warrants for alleged war crimes have been issued by the International Criminal Court against Mr Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as the military commander of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, although Hamas later confirmed he had been killed in an air strike.
The signing of the Trump ceasefire agreement also saw the release of 20 living Israeli hostages from Gaza with continuing efforts to recover the remains of the dead. Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners who had been convicted of crimes including murder and deadly attacks against Israelis, and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza who had been held by Israel without charge.
When I asked Queen Rania if she believed a lasting peace was possible, she said hope for this was not naive, but a form of defiance.
“I truly believe that Palestinians and Israelis can exist side by side,” she said. “In the current atmosphere, there’s too much animosity, too much anger and grief and hatred and cynicism between the two peoples to actually forge a peace on their own. I’m not being naive here. But I think with the push of the international community, that is the only way.
“So many times during the past two years, hope had felt elusive. Choosing hope was not easy… it’s hard, it’s heavy. But it’s the only path that doesn’t deny Palestinians or betray their struggle or our humanity.”
With additional reporting by Alice Doyard, Suha Kawar, David McIlveen and Liam Connell.
China urges the U.S. to safeguard ‘hard-earned’ achievements ahead of Xi-Trump meeting
The Chinese Communist Party’s official mouthpiece called on the world’s biggest economies to “jointly safeguard hard-won achievements” from their latest trade talks, ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
Trade negotiators from China and the U.S. announced Sunday that they’d struck a slew of agreements on issues spanning tariffs, shipping fees, fentanyl and export controls over two days in Malaysia. That marked a significant cooling of tensions, after a recent volley of tariff threats and fresh export curbs threatened to derail the bilateral relationship.
Striking a conciliatory tone, the People’s Daily said Monday the progress showed Beijing and Washington were capable of handling their differences. “Neither side was blindsided by these issues, instead they focused on solving the problems,” according to the commentary penned by Zhong Sheng, a Chinese homonym for “Voice of China” that’s often used to set out Beijing’s foreign policy views.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose as much as 1.3% on Monday, while the broader MSCI AC Asia Pacific Index advanced 1.5% to a new intraday record. China’s 10-year government bond yields edged up, as demand for safety assets ebbed following the positive results of trade talks.
Xi and Trump are expected to sign off on the terms this week in South Korea when they sit down in person for the first time since the U.S. president returned to power. That meeting could reveal details around issues such as China’s purchases of U.S. soybeans, Washington’s plans for shipping fees on Chinese vessels and Beijing’s rare earth export controls.
“We expect the leaders to approve the deal, but whether it will bring lasting relief to markets is less clear—the new reality for U.S.-China ties appears to be one of frequent ruptures and short-term fixes,” Chang Shu, David Qu and Jennifer Welch of Bloomberg Economics wrote in a note.
From Beijing’s perspective, fewer external uncertainties will buy policymakers’ time to focus on supporting the domestic economy and enhancing its tech sufficiency, they added. While Chinese industrial companies saw their earnings surge the most in nearly two years last month, the job market remains gloomy and a years long housing crash is lingering.
The People’s Daily commentary called on the U.S. to stick to the trade and economic consultation mechanism led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Export curbs announced by U.S. officials outside that framework have derailed the system several times in recent months, prompting Beijing to jam its rare earth supply chain that’s critical to American manufacturing.
Bessent said he believed China would delay its latest rare-earth restrictions “for a year while they reexamine it” after the latest talks. It had been unclear how Beijing would enforce its proposed curbs asserting control over any global shipment containing even a trace of certain rare metals from China, a move that had sparked outcry in Europe, too.
Another potential area for a quick win is the 20% fentanyl tariff the U.S. has imposed on Beijing to pressure authorities into halting the flow of precursor chemicals used to make the deadly drug. Relief on that levy—which stacks on top of Liberation Day tariffs—could be a boon for the Asian nation at a time when domestic demand is weak.
China and the U.S. have held five rounds of talks since Trump unveiled the highest U.S. tariffs since the 1930s in April, which ended with Chinese exports to America facing a 55% levy. The People’s Daily piece said those talks were proof that neither nation wanted to decouple.
“The two sides should meet each other halfway, cherish outcomes of every dialogue and continuously build mutual trust and manage differences,” the publication said.
Despite the latest dovish language from both sides, global investors are learning to embrace the new normal of “tension, escalation and truce,” Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura Holdings Inc. wrote in a Monday note.
“It’s good for the world’s top two largest economies to dial down tensions,” he added, “but we believe the superpower rivalry will likely escalate in the future.”
Eva Okaro Sets New Texas School Record in 100 Free with Time of 47.06, Rex Maurer Dominates with Four Event Wins
By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam
Texas vs Tennessee
- October 24, 2025
- Austin, TX
- SCY (25 Yards)
- Morning Results PDF
- Night Results PDF
- Morning Recap
- Night Recap
The Texas men and women defeated Tennessee on Friday during two sessions. In the morning, the Texas men won 120-65, and the Texas women won 135-51. During the night session, Texas earned the win 226.5-90.5 in combined team scoring.
Women’s 100 Free
Women’s 500 Free
Women’s 200 Free
Women’s 100 Fly
Women’s 100 Breast
Women’s 1000 Free
Women’s 200 Back
Women’s 100 Back
Women’s 200 Fly
Women’s 50 Free
Women’s 200 Medley Relay
Women’s 200 IM
Women’s 400 IM
Women’s 200 Breast
Women’s 200 Free Relay
Women’s 200 Medley Relay
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
Men’s 200 Free Relay
Men’s 1000 Free
Men’s 200 Back
Men’s 100 Free
Men’s 200 Fly
Men’s 200 Breast
Men’s 400 IM
Men’s 400 Medley Relay
Men’s 100 Breast
Men’s 200 Medley Relay
Men’s 200 Free
Men’s 500 Free
Men’s 50 Free
Men’s 100 Fly
Men’s 200 IM
Men’s 100 Back
Mixed 4×100 Free Relay
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Watch: Eva Okaro Break Texas School Record With 47.06 100 Free, Rex Maurer Wins Four Events
Russia Conducts Tests on Burevestnik, the Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile
Russia has flown a nuclear-arm-capable cruise missile propelled by a nuclear engine. In a televised conference chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin the 15-hour flight of the 9M730 Burevestnik (NATO name SSC-X-9 Skyfall) was confirmed.
It seems like something out of the Cold War – and in some ways, it is. However, it’s not entirely a surprise in defense circles. Since December 2001, there have been reports that Russia is looking at modernizing its nuclear forces with weapons that would have the range of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), yet would be able to dodge radar and avoid any anti-ballistic missile defenses.
Now, Russia is saying that just such a weapon has been constructed and flight tested.
“I remember vividly when we announced that we were developing such a weapon, even highly qualified specialists told me that, yes, it was a good and worthy goal, but unrealizable in the near future,” said Putin. “This was the opinion of specialists, I repeat, highly qualified. And now the decisive tests have been completed. Much work remains to be done to put these weapons on combat alert, of course; all the regulations must be followed. Nevertheless, as far as I understand, the key objectives have now been achieved.”
Russian government
Chief of the General Staff Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov then reported that the Skyfall had not only been successfully tested on October 21, 2025, but had flown for about 15 hours, covering a distance of 14,000 km (8,700 miles).
The existence of Skyfall was first made public by President Putin in a 2018 address when he declared that Russia was developing a weapon with unlimited range that could fly an unpredictable course and was “invincible” when it came to evading current or future Western defenses.
Skyfall attempted its first flight test in 2016, though this was hampered by many technical difficulties and in August 2019 a second test ended in an explosion at a naval range in the White Sea, resulting in the reported death of five nuclear engineers and a radiation spike that was detected by the US.
US Department of War
Russia is extremely tight lipped about Skyfall, but experts have been speculating that it is similar to the American Supersonic Low-Altitude Missile (SLAM) program developed under the aegis of Project Pluto, which was tasked with creating an intercontinental, nuclear-powered cruise missile during the Cold War in the 1960s.
If this is the case, then Skyfall is a cruise missile similar to a Tomahawk except that instead of a jet engine it has a very small nuclear reactor that heats the incoming air, generating thrust. Since the fuel is nuclear, this means that Skyfall has an indefinite range – certainly not unlimited – until the propulsion mechanism fails.
Such a cruise missile would have a very long flight time and would be able to fly at low altitudes while hugging the terrain. By changing course, speed, and altitude unpredictably, it would be extremely difficult to track and intercept.
US Department of War
Not much is known for certain about Skyfall’s specifications, but it is likely launched using a solid-rocket booster, with the reactor kicking in at cruising speed like a ramjet. Its length is believed to be 39 ft (12 m), reduced to 30 ft (9 m) when in flight. Speed is likely to be in the high subsonic range of about 663 knots (760 mph, 1,225 km/h), though some experts think it might reach low supersonic velocity. Some reports have Putin claiming that the missile can reach hypersonic speeds in excess of Mach 5, though this is highly unlikely.
Though it is nuclear capable, there is no indication of the warhead yield. It is highly unlikely that it was armed during the test flights. Whether it will be operational in the near future – or ever – remains to be seen, with many Western experts saying the Skyfall may not be technologically viable or safe to deploy and may weigh as much as 24 tonnes.
Not to mention the geopolitical implications of fielding a weapon that is not only nuclear armed, but nuclear propelled. Just firing such a missile as part of a routine military exercise would be enough to spark international concern.
It presents a mental picture very similar to a hornet’s nest meeting with a deftly wielded stick.
Source: Russian government
Israel accused of committing “genocide” during Netanyahu’s leadership
Israeli historian Avi Shlaim says Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians under Netanyahu’s rule.
Challenge from the Client
A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser
extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your
connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.
Direct flights between India and China resume after a 5-year hiatus
Ethirajan Anbarasan,Global Affairs reporter and
Koh Ewe
Getty ImagesDirect flights between India and China have resumed as relations between the countries appear to be thawing.
IndiGo flight 6E 1703 from Kolkata landed in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Monday, carrying about 180 passengers.
Flights between the two countries were first suspended during the Covid pandemic in early 2020 and did not restart after a deadly clash in a disputed Himalayan border area escalated tensions.
But the two countries have been steadily rebuilding relations, and last year they reached a landmark agreement on border patrols.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi visited China in August for the first time in seven years. That same month Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited India.
The Indian government said the resumption of flights would “facilitate people-to-people contact” and help “the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges”.
India also resumed the issuance of visas for Chinese tourists.
Getty ImagesAt the Kolkata airport on Sunday evening, airline staff lit brass oil lamps to mark the resumption of the direct flights as IndiGo passengers checked in.
A senior Chinese consular official, Qin Yong, told reporters at the airport that it was a “very important day for the India-China relationship”.
One passenger said the direct connection would improve logistics and transit time.
China Eastern Airlines is set to launch a flight connecting Shanghai and Delhi in November.
Milei’s election win set to boost Argentine markets
Argentine markets expected to rally after Milei’s election victory
Early results show Milei’s party with a significant victory in high-stakes Argentina elections.
BREAKINGBREAKING,
La Libertad Avanza gets most votes nationally, as well as in the Buenos Aires province, early results and media tallies show.
Published On 27 Oct 2025
Argentinian President Javier Milei’s party has pulled off a stunning win in Sunday’s legislative elections, according to early results, in a move that boosts his ability to continue his economic overhaul of the country.
The president’s party, La Libertad Avanza, scored 41.5 percent of the vote in Buenos Aires province, compared with 40.8 percent for the opposition Peronist coalition, according to official results.
The province has long been a political stronghold for the Peronists, marking a dramatic political shift.
Nationwide, La Libertad Avanza won 40.84 percent of the votes in elections for the lower house of Congress, according to tallies in local media using numbers from electoral authorities.
The results widely reported also showed that his party won six of the eight provinces that voted to renew a third of the Senate.
In Sunday’s elections, Argentinians voted on nearly half the seats in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress, and for a third of those in the upper house, the Senate.
Milei was aiming to boost his small minority in Congress and maintain the support of United States President Donald Trump, whose administration recently provided Argentina with a hefty financial bailout, but has threatened to pull away if the incumbent leader did not do well.
More soon…