Politics

• What Bessent’s Economic Isolation of Iran Could Look Like
  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US is getting ready to squeeze Iran with unprecedented economic pressure, a claim critics greeted with skepticism given the country is already subject to a naval blockade and thousands of sanctions.
• Iran, Oman Home In on Hormuz Strait Deal as Ship Attacks Mount
  Iran and Oman appear to be edging closer to a deal on how the Strait of Hormuz should be managed, agreeing on routes through the key waterway that’s proved a major stumbling block in efforts to end almost six months of war between the Islamic Republic and the US.
• Blanche Defends Reflecting Pool Prosecutor Who Angered Trump
  US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Jeanine Pirro for dismissing a federal vandalism case in a decision that angered President Donald Trump, saying the top prosecutor in Washington, DC, should be judged fairly.
• Second Ceuta Border Push Falls Flat With Security Forces Ready
  Grassroots calls for a second incursion into Ceuta from Morocco fell flat over the weekend, with security tight and authorities turning back the relative handful who tried to make the move.
• Nigerian Ruling Party Loses State Election Before National Polls
  A governor in Nigeria’s southwestern Osun state fended off a challenge from the ruling party to secure another four-year term, giving the fractured opposition a morale-boosting victory ahead of national elections in January.
• Wildberries Depot Ablaze Near Moscow as Drone Downed in Romania
  A Wildberries warehouse near Moscow caught fire after a Ukrainian drone strike, the regional governor said, part of one of the largest recent attacks on the broader capital area.
• Colombia Asks US to Pause Tariffs in Deadly Quake’s Aftermath
  Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella asked US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods as the country grapples with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that killed nearly 300 people.
• Lecornu Plans Crisis Meeting on Cyberattack at French Tax Agency
  French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will hold a crisis meeting Monday to respond to the cyberattack disclosed last week targeting the country’s tax collection agency.