Week In Review (WIRE) News 10.27.2025

Edited by Mary Wahn, Grey Cohen, John Gooden, Ethan Joyce, Bianca Orfila-Molinet

Asia and the Pacific

Written by Jesse Vu

Japan Elects Ultra-Conservative and First Woman to the Office of Prime Minister

On Tuesday, October 21st, Japan made history and elected the first-ever woman prime minister. Having cleared a majority of votes in both the Lower and Upper Houses, Sanae Takaichi is now the prime minister of Japan. 

As the new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative of the Liberal Democratic Party, is under intense pressure to restore stability to the country. According to the Foreign Policy Research Institute, as the fourth prime minister in five years, Takaichi needs to demonstrate to her constituents that she is in it for the long haul and has the capability to tackle many pressing issues the country is facing. Domestically, the prime minister takes on the task of revitalizing a stagnant economy and addressing the growing living costs, which are weighing down the Japanese public. With the ASEAN summit quickly approaching, with President Trump’s visit to Tokyo after, the Prime Minister needs to emerge as the leading voice in the Indo-Pacific region while strengthening Japan's position as the U.S’s strongest and most reliable ally in the region. Additionally, the public will be closely watching how Takaichi will lead Japan through a tariff deal with the U.S., where a commitment of $550 billion toward critical U.S industries is expected. 

Since Takaichi's election to the office, the financial markets have trended positively, which signals investors’ confidence in the prime minister’s leadership and ability to grow Japan’s economy. A strong Japanese economy is crucial to Washington, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, where the need for the U.S to have a politically stable ally is stronger than ever. 

Central America and the Caribbean

Written by Gabriella Ramirez

Survivors Emerge from the U.S. Strikes in Caribbean Waters Amid Threat of Natural Disaster

The survivor of a U.S. strike in Caribbean waters, Andrés Fernando Tufiño, was repatriated by the U.S. and released by authorities in Ecuador after prosecutors said they had no evidence he committed a crime. President Trump accused the vessel of transporting drugs, such as fentanyl, despite the majority of illicit substances entering the U.S. from Mexico. Tufiño, along with a Colombian citizen, survived the attack and was rescued by the U.S. military after the attack. It was the 6th of its kind since September and resulted in 32 deaths. According to President Trump, the victims were being repatriated in their home countries for “detention and prosecution.” The strikes follow the Trump administration's assertion that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” against drug cartels. 

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Melissa rushes through the Caribbean Sea, producing landslides and bringing life-threatening flooding to Jamaica, killing an elderly man in Haiti, and causing the malfunction of water supply systems in the Dominican Republic. Melissa was expected to remain over open water, but it moved closer to Jamaica and Haiti and is expected to possibly reach Category 4 status by Tuesday. Haiti’s storm preparations are limited due to gang violence, poverty, and a weak government. Additionally, recent outbreaks of Cholera at a time of “severe deterioration of basic services,” as noted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, further complicate the situation in Haiti. 

Moreover, members of the UN Security Council warned Haitian leaders that their time is running out to restore security in the nation and hold general elections as the deadline to appoint a new government approaches. Haiti’s transitional presidential council is tasked with holding general elections before February 7th, 2026. An election date has not been announced as gang violence continues to consume the nation. 

Europe

Written by Ethan Joyce

U.S. Treasury Sanctions Russian Oil Giants and Global Solidarity with Ukraine

On October 22, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued sanctions against major Russian oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft. As a result, the two companies and their subsidiaries can essentially no longer participate in any U.S.-led financial markets–third parties engaging in business with Lukoil and Rosneft face the threat of severe economic penalties. Britain imposed a similar sanctions package last week.

In the US Treasury announcement, Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted Russian President Putin's refusal to engage in peace talks and end the war in Ukraine as the primary motivation for this paradigm shift, as Lukoil and Rosneft are both partially responsible for maintaining the Kremlin's warmaking apparatus. Financial institutions that conduct or facilitate “significant transactions” or provide “any service involving Russia’s military-industrial base” run the risk of being sanctioned by OFAC, too. Officially, China and India have cut their Russian oil imports as a result. 

Following the announcement, the price of oil surged by over 5% globally. In order to address market shortfalls, Kuwaiti representatives from OPEC announced they would be willing to raise oil output to offset any shortage in the market by reneging on output cuts. Meanwhile, Putin contested that it would take time for the global market to supplement missing Russian oil supplies and implied that these actions were actively obscuring a peace agreement from realization. 

Only a week ago, the Trump administration appeared ready to pursue peace talks with Putin in Budapest. The abrupt abandonment of that plan represents a major inflection point in the conflict, one that aligns with European leaders’ October 24 decision to form a “coalition of the willing,” signaling a broader reaffirmation of global solidarity with Ukraine.

Middle East and North Africa

Written by Ansley Hovater

Tunisians Protest Pollution from State-Run Phosphate Plant

Over 10,000 Tunisians protested in the streets of the southeastern governorate of Gabes against pollution from the headquarters plant of the state-run phosphate fertilizer processing organization. Citizens report difficulty breathing, rising instances of cancer, weak bones, and over 200 hospitalizations in the past five weeks, blaming repeated gas leaks and improper waste disposal from the plant.

For the past decade, the headquarters of the Chemical Group of Tunisia (GCT) has deposited thousands of tons of harmful chemicals into the Mediterranean Sea, deteriorating local ecosystems and inflicting illness among local residents. Demonstrators stormed towards the factory and demanded its shutdown on Wednesday, leading Tunisian police to restrain protesters with tear gas, but reporting no casualties. 

In 2017, the government agreed to gradually close the plant in Gabes, but President Kais Saied’s government struggles to find a balance and has endured rising protests in recent months as Tunisians face rapidly deteriorating socioeconomic conditions and a stagnated job market. Phosphate comprises 15% of Tunisia’s exports–roughly 4% of total GDP in 2023. The plant deposits over 14,000 tons of phosphogypsum into the Mediterranean Sea, threatening marine ecosystems in commercial fishing hotspots. 

Tunisian authorities have since promised that, with the help of Chinese investment, measures to contain gas emissions and improve waste disposal are underway. The protest adds to the growing concern worldwide of environmental conditions in the Middle East and Northern Africa as ecosystems continue to collapse. 

North America

Written by Justin Cohen

U.S. President Donald Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada as Economic Turmoil Continues

Late Thursday night, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that his administration was ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada. In his post, President Trump railed against a new television advertisement released by the Canadian province of Ontario criticizing U.S. tariffs. President Trump called the advertisement “FAKE,” alleging Canada was attempting to influence the coming U.S. Supreme Court proceedings on the legality of his administration’s tariff policies.

Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump met in Washington to discuss a possible trade deal. While President Trump spoke of the “mutual love” between the long-time allies and said he wanted “Canada to do well,” no agreement emerged during the visit. Thursday’s end of talks comes in the wake of Carney's recent announcement of his administration's goal to double Canada’s non-United States exports over the next decade. Carney described the move as a part of “bold” risks to jump-start and reshape the Canadian economy amid the nation’s declining exports and trade-war-induced economic contraction. 

Currently, more than 75% of Canadian exports travel to the U.S. PM Carney, an Oxford-trained economist and former Governor of the Banks of England and Canada, sees diversification as a necessity, with recent shifts in American trade policy leaving Canada unable to rely on its largest market. The fractured alliance pushes Canada to recalibrate its relationships with non-traditional partners. During his speech announcing the new export goals, PM Carney stated his country was “re-engaging with the global giants India and China.” 

South America

Written by Catie Crowe

Centrist Rodrigo Paz Ends Decades of Socialist Rule in Bolivia

On Sunday, preliminary election results showed that centrist senator Rodrigo Paz will be Bolivia’s next president. The election of Paz, a member of the center-right Christian Democratic Party, brings an end to nearly 20 years of continuous rule by the Movement for Socialism party (MAS). Paz’s victory comes after a severe economic crisis and infighting within MAS. Paz pledged a capitalistic approach, running on tax cuts, tariff reductions, and decentralization of the national government. Paz won 54% of the vote in comparison to his rival, former right-wing interim President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, who garnered 45.4% of the vote.

Bolivians continue to grapple with severe fuel shortages, which have accompanied long lines at petrol stations, a shortage of U.S. dollars, and rapid inflation. These economic issues have locked Bolivians out of their own savings and paralyzed the country. When in office, former President Quiroga chose to embrace the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an unpopular organization among Bolivians. In contrast, Paz has vowed to avoid the IMF, with plans to slowly end Bolivia’s fixed exchange rate and remove fuel subsidies— departing from the framework established by MAS over the past two decades. His party hopes these moves will fight corruption, reduce spending, and restore confidence in the country’s currency.

Bolivia has remained somewhat isolated from the world stage, but Paz’s election may signal a thaw in tensions between Washington and Sucre. U.S.-Bolivia relations have remained strained since Bolivia’s then-President Evo Morales expelled the U.S. ambassador for allegedly conspiring against the government in 2008. However, reacting to Paz’s win, the U.S. State Department shared its anticipation of partnering with Paz to restore stability, expand private-sector growth, and strengthen security. This reinstated connection could replenish foreign currency reserves and drive up fuel imports. Electing a centrist has also attracted China, a key trade partner for Bolivia. Paz will likely try to secure new foreign investment and exports of Bolivian minerals.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Written by Alex Whirley

Côte d'Ivoire’s State Repression and Democratic Backsliding

This week, widespread repression has been reported in Côte d'Ivoire as citizens prepare to head to the polls to elect a new president. The official campaign period concluded Thursday night, marked by heightened restrictions from the National Security Council, which banned all public gatherings and political demonstrations ahead of the October 25 vote.

President Alassane Ouattara, who has held power since 2011, is seeking a fourth five-year term, emphasizing the country’s steady economic growth over the past decade and a half. In September, the Constitutional Council confirmed that the two main opposition candidates, Tidjane Thiam and Pascal Affi N’Guessan, would be excluded from the election on technical grounds, effectively giving Ouattara an uncontested run. All three prior Ouattara victories have been politically violent, widely controversial, and followed by an escalation of repressive state tactics. The first, in 2010, resulted in armed conflict and the loss of more than 1,500 lives, and during the 2020 election, clashes between protestors and security forces killed at least 83 people and injured over 600.

Ouattara announced his fourth run in August, drawing strong condemnation from the political opposition but little response from the international community. The political climate of the Côte d'Ivoire remains deeply polarized, and growing allegations of corruption have fueled voter disillusion and public distrust in state institutions. These tensions raise the risk of renewed unrest and political violence surrounding this year's election. “We will fight, fight for democracy and peace in our country,” said Simon Doho, member of the Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast, a main political opposition to Ouattara.