Politics

• Iran Ramps Up Ship Attacks in Hormuz as Oil and Gas Flows Climb
  Iran has increased the pace of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, just as oil shipments through the world’s most important energy chokepoint approach prewar levels.
• Drone Maker Anduril Pushes Into Subs With Maryland Factory
  Anduril Industries, known for building drones and autonomous aircraft, is investing $3.7 billion to build a massive new shipbuilding facility in Maryland, a move that will enhance the US Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine production.
• Record $1,500 Heating Bills in Maine Upend a Key Race for Senate Control
  Nazi symbols, sexual assault allegations and months of internal Democratic conflict have churned through the US Senate race in Maine. But with the election four weeks away, it’s the explosion in housing costs and record-breaking heating bills that Mainers can’t stop talking about.
• Lawmakers Urge Oz to Reconsider Remote Health Monitoring Rule
  A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to reconsider a rule that would ban third parties from remote health monitoring reimbursements under Medicare, arguing it would cripple health systems in rural communities.
• Russian Tycoon Kremlev Says Trump Jr. Paid Back Wedding Tab
  Umar Kremlev said US President Donald Trump’s son had repaid the money the Russian tycoon had spent on post-wedding celebrations he hosted as a gift.
• Texas Governor to Skip San Antonio Trump Rally Amid Tight Race
  Texas Governor Greg Abbott is planning to skip a political rally in San Antonio headlined by President Donald Trump, declining a chance to appear with the country’s highest-profile Republican as his reelection bid faces a surprisingly strong challenge from Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
• Rubio Says US and Iceland Can Deepen Defense Cooperation
  The US and Iceland are keen to foster closer cooperation on security and defense, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
• Trump Says US to Consider Permanent Military Base in Lithuania
  President Donald Trump said the US will consider establishing a permanent military base in Lithuania, prompting an offer from the Baltic state’s government to cover the costs.
• Supreme Court’s Alito Says a Democratic Senate Win Won’t Prompt Quick Retirement
  Justice Samuel Alito said he plans to remain on the Supreme Court even if Democrats capture the Senate in next month’s midterms, dismissing speculation that he might quickly retire to ensure Donald Trump can get a successor confirmed.
• Trump Signs Order to Ease Limits on Diesel Variety to Curb Costs
  President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order to ease restrictions on the use of a tax-exempt variety of diesel, his latest bid to pare costs for the fuel ahead of November’s midterm elections.
• UK Counter-Terror Police Make Seventh Arrest in RAF Fairford Probe
  A 22-year-old British man was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offenses linked to a suspected plan to carry out an attack on UK airbase.
• Iranian Spies Plotted to Attack Journalist in London, Jury Told
  Iran paid three men to spy on London-based journalists critical of the country’s regime intending to violently attack them, prosecutors said at the start of a criminal trial.
• Badenoch Downplays UK ‘Iron Dome’ Policy Under Funding Scrutiny
  UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch downplayed initial claims her plans for a £10 billion ($13.2 billion) air defense program would amount to a British “iron dome” after the proposal came under scrutiny.
• Trump Says Terror Threats Forced B-1 Bombers Out of UK Base
  President Donald Trump said fresh threats of terror attacks prompted the US to move its B-1 bombers from their base in the UK, contradicting his top diplomat who had earlier described the move as part of a regular rotation.
• Lula Hunts for One More Improbable Comeback After Shock Setback
  To Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Sunday’s second-place finish to Flávio Bolsonaro stung all the more because he’d believed he could secure a knockout over his right-wing challenger.
• ‘Porky’ Nears Lima Comeback Despite Peru’s Ban on Reelection
  A Peruvian party led by a combative conservative holds a narrow lead in Lima’s mayoral race. There’s just one problem: the law bans immediate reelection for mayors, leaving voters unsure whether he can take the job.
• EU Plans to Limit Ukraine Farm Payments to Ease Membership Angst
  The European Union wants to restrict money and market access for Ukraine’s vast agriculture sector if the country joins the bloc — an attempt to appease concerns about Kyiv’s membership bid.
• Hungary Unveils Wealth Tax Plan, Raising Burden on Ultra-Rich
  Hungary will impose a wealth tax from next year, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said, fulfilling a election pledge to make the rich shoulder a larger share of public obligations.
• Ireland Unveils €50,000 Tax Threshold For New Savings Scheme
  Ireland’s new retail savings and investment accounts, aimed at encouraging more people to invest, will have a €50,000 ($56,318) tax-free threshold, Finance Minister Simon Harris announced in the budget Tuesday.
• Ukraine War Escalates as Black Sea Drone Strikes Hit Cargo Ships
  Russian attacks on commercial vessels off the Black Sea’s western coast are on the rise, threatening to add strain to already-choked trade flows in the region.
• Indonesia’s New Labor Law Tilts the Balance Back Toward Workers
  Indonesia rolled back parts of a business-friendly labor law, tightening restrictions on outsourcing and fixed-term contracts.
• China Money Linked to Philippine VP Duterte’s Spouse Under Probe
  The Philippines is investigating the national security implications of alleged inflows of more than 300 million pesos ($4.8 million) from China into a company associated with Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband.
• Germany’s Ex-Spy Chief Arrested in Espionage Probe
  Germany’s former foreign intelligence chief, August Hanning, was taken into custody as part of an investigation into treason and espionage allegations.
• Singapore Refers Eight to Police After Home Buying Review
  Singapore has referred cases involving eight public officers to the police after reviewing property purchases by officials who worked at agencies involved in rail planning, Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing told parliament on Tuesday.
• Turkish Politician Asked to Return Gains in Fund Crisis, AA Says
  Turkish prosecutors asked lenders to hand over assets of the ruling party’s former deputy chair in the course of a funds-rout investigation that’s reached the top of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political establishment.
• Saudi-Led Forces Claim Ground Advances in Yemen Against Houthis
  Yemen’s internationally-recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, claimed to have regained territory from the Houthis, as fighting in the region near the Bab el-Mandeb strait intensifies.
• Yemen Says It Retook Port City From Houthis as Battle for Bab El-Mandeb Looms
  Yemen’s armed forces wrested control of the Red Sea city of Mocha on Monday after battles with the Iran-backed Houthis, according to state-run Saba, which puts the internationally recognized government closer to taking over the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
• Trump Plans to Ease Limits on Tax-Exempt Diesel Variety
  President Donald Trump is preparing to ease limits restricting the use of a tax-exempt variety of diesel, his latest bid to pare costs for the essential fuel ahead of the November midterm elections.
• Quién es Umar Kremlev, el ruso que pagó una celebración de Donald Trump Jr.
• Separatistas vuelven al poder en Quebec y abren la puerta a referendo de independencia
  Los votantes de Quebec eligieron al Parti Québécois, de corte separatista, por primera vez en más de una década, lo que podría tensar la relación con el gobierno del primer ministro Mark Carney y abrir la puerta a un eventual referendo sobre la independencia de la provincia.
• Pakistan Says Mecca Pact Is Supporting Saudi Arabia With Houthis
  Pakistan’s Defense Minister said his country and Turkey have been supporting Saudi Arabia in its conflict against the Houthis, as a trilateral security pact signed earlier this year faces its first test.
• Sánchez Seeks to Pass Housing Bills Ahead of Spanish Election
  Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government approved new housing measures meant to address Spain’s affordability crisis in a bid to quell nationwide protests and salvage the legislation that was struck down by parliament last week.
• German Far Right Wins Top Post as It Seeks to Lead State
  Germany’s far-right party secured a bigger-than-expected majority for the top parliamentary post in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, giving it a firm foothold as it builds support to take power in a regional government.
• UK Could Hold Later Spending Review to Defer Decision on Defense
  The UK government could publish a crucial spending plan in the second half of next year, despite expectations that it would be held in the spring or early summer.