Evening Brief: US Captures Survivors After Caribbean Submarine Strike, Prince Andrew Renounces Duke of York Title, Hamas Digs for Hostage Remains

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Enters South China Sea After Middle East Deployment The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) transited the Singapore Strait on Friday and began operations in the South China Sea following a three-month deployment in the Middle East. The group, which includes destroyers USS Gridley (DDG-101), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108), and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123), left San Diego in March for what is expected to be its final deployment. USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier heading eastbound in the Singapore Strait – October 17, 2025 SRC: INT- dc_ah pic.twitter.com/KSdQs7G7iC — WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) October 17, 2025 The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) briefly joins the George Washington Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in the Western Pacific before the latter returns to its homeport in Yokosuka, Japan, on Saturday. The Nimitz’s duration in the region remains unclear as President Donald Trump prepares to visit Malaysia for the ASEAN summit on October 26.   Russians and Ukrainians Express Cautious Outlook Ahead of Trump-Putin Peace Summit Russians and Ukrainians voiced cautious hopes but little expectation of a breakthrough as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare to meet in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The upcoming summit follows a Thursday phone call between the two leaders and precedes Trump’s White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Many Russians said they hoped for progress on prisoner exchanges or the return of displaced children but doubted swift results, while Ukrainians expressed skepticism, saying past meetings had produced no tangible outcomes. President Trump explains choice of Hungary for Putin peace summit with PM Orban: “It’s a leader we like! We like Viktor Orban. He likes him, I like him. It’s a safe country. He’s been a very good leader.” He adds, “We’ve decided we’re going to be with VIKTOR ORBAN,” noting, “He… pic.twitter.com/7lobI5xtyE — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) October 17, 2025 The conflict, now in its fourth year, continues to weigh heavily on both nations.   Russia Jails 15 Ukrainian POWs on Terrorism Charges in Trial Kyiv Calls Illegal A Russian military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 15 captured Ukrainian soldiers from the Aidar battalion to prison terms of 15 to 21 years on terrorism charges Friday. Ukraine condemned the proceedings as a violation of international law, calling the trial a political show aimed at punishing defenders of the country. Human rights group Memorial labeled the soldiers political prisoners, saying the verdict breaches the Geneva Convention, which prohibits prosecuting prisoners of war (POWs) for combat participation. ⚡️Russia sentences 15 Ukrainian POWs to up to 21 years in prison after torture and sham trials. A court in Rostov-on-Don convicted members of the Aidar Battalion of “terrorism” simply for serving in Ukraine’s army, violating the Geneva Convention. pic.twitter.com/E9cf1UGDwl — UNITED24 Media (@United24media) October 17, 2025 Russia has designated the Aidar and Azov battalions as terrorist organizations and previously convicted 23 Azov members in a similar trial in March.   Prince Andrew Renounces Duke of York Title Amid Renewed Epstein Scandal Prince Andrew announced Friday that he is relinquishing his Duke of York title and other royal honors after renewed scrutiny of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision, made with King Charles III’s agreement, follows excerpts from the upcoming memoir of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Andrew, 65, denies the allegations but said the accusations “distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family.” Prince Andrew has agreed to relinquish his Duke of York title following fresh revelations tied to Jeffrey Epstein and alleged Chinese espionage. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has also agreed to relinquish her title Duchess of York. https://t.co/Plfsnul4gq pic.twitter.com/vygdxykpJO — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 17, 2025 Giuffre died by suicide in April. Andrew will also give up his knighthoods but retain his title of prince by birth.   Hamas Digs for Hostage Remains as Ceasefire With Israel Faces Strain Hamas said Friday it plans to hand over another hostage’s remains as it works to uphold its fragile ceasefire with Israel by excavating destroyed areas in Gaza. The group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it recovered the remains earlier in the day but gave no details on the victim’s identity or handover site. The move follows warnings from US President Donald Trump that Israel could resume military action if Hamas fails to return all 28 hostages’ bodies. So far, nine remains have been returned. Hamas blamed delays on Israeli restrictions preventing new bulldozers from entering Gaza to aid recovery efforts. 📍 Hamas will hand over the remains of an Israeli hostage tonight under the ceasefire deal ➡️ The handover will take place at 20:00 GMT, says Hamas https://t.co/ntqiiy5bku pic.twitter.com/A2bzoMNx1m — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 17, 2025 Meanwhile, France, Britain, and the US are preparing a UN resolution for an international stabilization force in Gaza as aid deliveries remain far below agreed levels. The war has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and left Gaza’s 2 million residents in dire humanitarian conditions.   Rafah Border Crossing May Reopen Sunday, Raising Hopes for Gaza Aid and Travel The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, Gaza’s only prewar route not controlled by Israel, could reopen Sunday, Israel’s foreign minister announced this week. The reopening would restore a key lifeline for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, allowing the flow of aid, fuel, and medical supplies after months of famine and destruction. United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said he hoped to see the crossing “full of trucks” following the recent peace deal. With famine conditions prevailing in Gaza, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told Reuters thousands of aid trucks are needed weekly, while uncertainty remains over whether the Rafah crossing will reopen https://t.co/HBAV8JKjA7 pic.twitter.com/9g9xGnUk7V — Reuters (@Reuters) October 17, 2025 Rafah has remained mostly closed since Israel seized its Gaza-side gate in May 2024, and it is unclear whether it will reopen for both aid and passenger traffic. The European Union has offered to help monitor the crossing once it is secure, while aid groups stress that control should remain in Palestinian hands.   China Expels Top General and Eight Officials in Major Military Corruption Crackdown China expelled its second-ranking general, He Weidong, and eight other senior military officials from the Communist Party and armed forces over alleged large-scale corruption, the Defense Ministry announced Friday. He, formerly vice-chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a Politburo member, is the most senior figure yet removed in President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-graft campaign. The officials’ cases have been referred to military prosecutors. Most were high-ranking officers tied to the Central Committee and the CMC, which oversees China’s armed forces. Breaking | China’s No 2 general He Weidong expelled from the Communist Party https://t.co/5MMD3o3JeG — South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) October 17, 2025 The move comes ahead of a key Communist Party meeting in Beijing and signals Xi’s continued effort to tighten control over the military and enforce political loyalty through corruption purges.   Pakistan and Afghanistan Extend Ceasefire Ahead of Talks in Doha Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed Friday to extend their 48-hour ceasefire until peace talks conclude in Doha, according to Pakistani security and Afghan Taliban sources. #BREAKING: Pakistan and Afghanistan have mutually agreed to extend 48-hour ceasefire until planned Doha talks conclude — Reuters, citing Pakistani security officials and an Afghan Taliban source. https://t.co/5kq4JXzEWw pic.twitter.com/v5r1IOvAVJ — Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) October 17, 2025 A Pakistani delegation has already arrived in the Qatari capital, while an Afghan delegation is expected Saturday. The truce, initially announced Wednesday, paused several days of intense cross-border fighting that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded.   South Korea Showcases AI-Powered Weapons at Largest-Ever Defense Expo South Korea opened its biggest-ever defense exhibition Friday, featuring advanced unmanned and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven weapons as it seeks to bolster its military and expand global arms exports. The Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 drew 600 companies from 35 countries, showcasing systems from fighter jets to suicide drones. KF-21 Aerial Display at the Seoul ADEX 2025. 📸On Image. pic.twitter.com/1PuGGqUNqs — International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) October 17, 2025 Hanwha Aerospace unveiled upgraded AI-enabled K9 howitzers and its new loitering munition, the L-PGW. Defense Minister Seok Jong-gun said South Korea aims to modernize its arsenal and strengthen export partnerships with the US, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. The event follows North Korea’s recent military parade and arms display in Pyongyang.   Sources: News Agencies