While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Oct 25, 2025
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The USS Gerald R. Ford - the US’ newest aircraft carrier and the world’s largest - has been deployed to Latin America.
PHOTO: REUTERS
US deploys aircraft carrier group to South America
President Donald Trump dramatically escalated a US military buildup in the Caribbean on Oct 24 by deploying the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group to Latin America, a show of force that far exceeds any past counter-narcotics need and represents Washington’s most muscular move yet in the region.
The deployment is part of Mr Trump’s military buildup in the Caribbean, which includes eight additional warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft.
It is likely to raise concern in the region about the Trump administration’s intent.
The deployment marks a significant escalation amid heightened tensions with Venezuela, whose government Washington has long accused of harbouring drug traffickers and undermining democratic institutions.
Canadians pull Reagan tariff ad after Trump scraps talks
The Canadian province of Ontario said on Oct 24 it would pull an anti-tariff ad featuring former US president Ronald Reagan that prompted current leader Donald Trump to scrap trade talks.
Trump announced on his Truth Social network on Oct 23 that he had “terminated” all negotiations with Canada over what he called the “fake” ad campaign that he said misrepresented fellow Republican Reagan.
Less than 24 hours later, Ontario premier Doug Ford said he was suspending the ads after talking to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the spiralling row with Washington.
Germany’s foreign minister postpones China trip
PHOTO: AFP
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul postponed his first trip to China after Beijing confirmed only one of his requested meetings, pointing to rising tensions between the largest economies in Europe and Asia over trade and security issues.
The trip that was originally planned for Oct 26 will not take place, a spokesperson for his ministry said on Oct 24, adding this was regrettable.
It would have been the first by a minister from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government.
Lithuania shuts airports, Belarus border over balloons
PHOTO: GOOGLE STREET VIEW
Nato member Lithuania closed its two biggest airports on Oct 24 and shut crossings on its border with Belarus after helium weather balloons drifted into its territory, the third such incident in the Baltic nation this month.
European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and other air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and the Baltic region.
The Vilnius and Kaunas airports were closed for safety reasons until 2am (7am on Oct 25 in Singapore), while the Belarus border crossings will remain shut until midday on Oct 26, authorities said.
Britain pushes allies to boost Ukraine support
PHOTO: AFP
Britain on Oct 24 urged fellow allies of Ukraine to reach a deal to use frozen Russian assets to strengthen its hand for any future peace talks, as President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in London for talks with those allies.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said he would also press the “Coalition of the Willing” countries to take Russian oil and gas off the global market, and give Kyiv more long-range missiles.
European Union leaders agreed on Oct 23 to meet Ukraine’s “pressing financial needs” for the next two years but stopped short of endorsing a plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund a giant loan to Kyiv over Belgian concerns.
