Morning Brief: Conservative Outlets Join Pentagon Press Corps, EU Approves New Sanctions on Russia, North Korean Hackers Stole Billions

  Rubio to Visit Israel After Vance as US Pushes Ceasefire and Gaza Stabilization Plan US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to visit Israel following Vice President JD Vance’s trip, aiming to sustain progress on a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Rubio said he would visit a new US-Israeli civilian military coordination center in southern Israel, where 200 US troops are working with international partners on Gaza’s stabilization and reconstruction. He also said Washington seeks Gulf allies’ support to form an international force to train non-Hamas Palestinian police in Gaza. Rubio criticized Israeli lawmakers’ preliminary approval of a bill to annex the West Bank, warning it could endanger peace efforts. Prior to leaving Washington tonight for his trip to the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Trump Administration did not support yesterday’s vote in the Knesset regarding the annexation of the West Bank, calling the vote “counterproductive” and stating… pic.twitter.com/twdpd2LwhU — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 23, 2025 Vance, who visited Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the US seeks a partnership, not control, over Israel. Separately, Israel’s Supreme Court held a hearing on whether to allow international journalists into Gaza, giving the state 30 days to respond amid ongoing media access restrictions since the 2023 war began.   US, Japan Lead Major Annualex Naval Drills with Allies in Philippine Sea US and Japanese forces are conducting large-scale joint naval exercises in the Philippine Sea as part of Annualex, a biennial multilateral drill aimed at strengthening combat readiness and regional deterrence. Led by Japan’s destroyer carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184), the exercise includes anti-submarine and air warfare operations, replenishment-at-sea, and maritime communications training. The US contribution features ships including USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), USS Shoup (DDG-86), and aircraft such as F-35B and F-35C fighters. For the first time, France joined the drills alongside Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. France deployed the frigate FS Prairial (F731), while Canada sent HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV432). The strength of our U.S.-Japan alliance at sea U.S., Japan and partner forces fly and sail together in the Philippine Sea during #ANNUALEX2025. Read more: https://t.co/vH0PCNTvaA#USNavy | #AlliesAndPartners | #PresenceMatters | #BlueGreenTeam pic.twitter.com/Cawc1Gl16S — 7th Fleet (@US7thFleet) October 21, 2025 Annualex runs concurrently with Japan’s 2025 Joint Exercise, involving over 52,000 Japanese personnel, 5,900 US troops, and 230 Australian forces in amphibious, airborne, and anti-ship operations across Japan. Both exercises aim to improve interoperability among Indo-Pacific allies and enhance regional security.   EU Approves New Sanctions on Russia Targeting Oil, Gas, and ‘Shadow Fleet’ The European Union agreed Thursday on a new package of sanctions against Russia focused on curbing its “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and banning imports of liquefied natural gas, according to the Danish EU presidency. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the measures also target Russia’s financial sector and restrict the movement of Russian diplomats within the bloc. The agreement, finalized hours before a Brussels summit attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aligns with recent US sanctions on Russia’s energy industry aimed at pressuring President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. 🇪🇺 The EU passes its latest package of sanctions on Moscow, targeting Russian entities in India and China 🗣️ ‘It is increasingly harder for Putin to fund this war,’ says the bloc’s foreign policy chief https://t.co/3BTX79kOXF pic.twitter.com/NzUbzTamiO — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 23, 2025 The EU’s 19th sanctions package follows weeks of negotiation among member states and coincides with discussions on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war effort and long-term defense plans.   Belgium Urges EU to Share Risk in Plan to Use Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Aid Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Thursday that European Union partners must jointly share the risks of using Russia’s frozen assets to support Ukraine’s economy and war effort, warning that Belgium should not face possible Russian retaliation alone. The EU is developing a “reparation loan” plan to raise about $165 billion for Ukraine, backed by Russian assets currently frozen in Europe, with repayment expected only if Moscow pays war reparations. Belgium holds the largest share of these assets—around $225 billion—and has demanded firm legal and political guarantees before participating. Belgian PM Bart De Wever warns he will sink the plan to tap frozen Russian central bank assets unless other EU countries agree to share the risk https://t.co/ll8B0KxLui — Bloomberg (@business) October 23, 2025 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the proposal does not confiscate Russian property but instead uses the assets’ cash balances to secure the loan. Russia has condemned the plan as “theft,” while De Wever emphasized the need for a clear legal framework before any action is taken.   France Grants Conditional Release to Iranian Woman Accused of Promoting Terrorism Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari, arrested in France in February for allegedly promoting terrorism online, was conditionally released under judicial supervision, Iran’s foreign ministry said Wednesday. French prosecutors confirmed the release but opposed it, citing flight risk. Esfandiari, who has lived in France since 2018, must remain in the country, report regularly to police, and avoid social media while awaiting her January 13 trial on charges of advocating terrorism, racial hatred, and criminal conspiracy. Her release comes amid ongoing talks between France and Iran over a potential prisoner exchange involving French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained in Iran since 2022. Iranian woman accused of promoting terrorism freed in France ➡️ https://t.co/1Xc7B42dDn pic.twitter.com/w78DrQiqKS — FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) October 23, 2025 Tehran welcomed Esfandiari’s release and said it is working to secure her return home.   Drones Hit Khartoum and Airport for Third Straight Day Amid Ongoing Sudan Conflict Drone strikes targeted Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and its airport early Thursday for the third consecutive day, witnesses told AFP. Explosions were heard after drones reportedly flew toward military facilities and the airport, which has been closed for more than two years. The attacks are believed to have been launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been fighting the Sudanese Army since April 2023. Plans to reopen the airport on Wednesday were postponed indefinitely following the renewed strikes. Drone attacks target Sudanese capital, Khartoum airport ➡️ https://t.co/6y5yOhZ0yW pic.twitter.com/9Em7PvYwVr — FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) October 23, 2025 Although the Sudanese Army retook Khartoum from the RSF in March, the city remains heavily damaged and unstable. More than a million displaced residents have returned in recent months as the government works to restore services, but the war has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 12 million, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.   Cambodia Arrests 57 South Koreans in Online Scam Raid Amid Growing Bilateral Crackdown Cambodian police arrested 57 South Korean nationals Wednesday during a raid on an alleged online scam center on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, authorities said Thursday. The operation, conducted with a visiting South Korean parliamentary delegation, also detained 29 Chinese nationals. Police confiscated 126 laptops and 30 phones from the site. The arrests follow weeks of joint action between Cambodia and South Korea after public outrage over the death of a South Korean student reportedly forced to work in a scam ring. Cambodia recently repatriated 64 South Koreans accused of participating in similar fraud operations. Cambodian officials said evidence shows the workers acted voluntarily, while South Korean police continue to investigate whether they were coerced. Dozens of South Korean nationals who had been detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in cyberscam operations have been returned home and placed under arrest, according to South Korean authorities https://t.co/ryHkhLCZhG pic.twitter.com/8qfNz47h43 — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 18, 2025 Over the past four months, Cambodian authorities have raided 92 scam sites nationwide, arresting more than 3,400 people from 20 countries, with 75 suspects formally charged.   North Korean Hackers Stole Billions Through Crypto Heists and Fake Tech Jobs to Fund Weapons Program: Report North Korean hackers have stolen billions of dollars by infiltrating cryptocurrency exchanges and posing as remote tech workers for foreign companies, according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. The 138-page assessment, compiled by officials from 11 nations including the US, Japan, and the United Kingdom, found that Pyongyang uses these cyber operations to fund its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs while evading United Nations sanctions. The report said North Korea’s cyber capabilities now rival those of China and Russia and have caused financial losses, data breaches, and physical damage worldwide. It cited evidence of North Korean hackers laundering cryptocurrency, conducting disruptive cyberattacks, and using fake identities to secure remote IT jobs and funnel earnings to the regime. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) previously linked a $1.5 billion Ethereum theft from the Bybit exchange to North Korean operatives. North Korean hackers have stolen billions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency and tech firm salaries to finance research and development of nuclear arms, according to a new report. https://t.co/wVEdi1TP1U — ABC News (@ABC) October 22, 2025 The monitoring team replaced a UN panel disbanded after Russia blocked its renewal and is tasked with tracking Pyongyang’s sanctions evasion.   North Korea Tests New Hypersonic Missiles Ahead of APEC Summit, Citing Nuclear Deterrent North Korea said Thursday it successfully tested a new hypersonic missile system intended to strengthen its nuclear deterrent, marking another step in leader Kim Jong Un’s push to enhance advanced weapons capabilities. The announcement came a day after South Korea detected multiple missiles launched from near Pyongyang that flew about 350 kilometers (217 miles) northeast before landing on land. State media said the two hypersonic projectiles accurately hit targets and are designed to carry nuclear warheads. The tests occurred days before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, which will include U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The US military condemned the launches as “unlawful and destabilizing.” DPRK succesfully conducted a test launch of a new weapon system Two HYPERSONIC missiles were launched towards the northeast, hitting their intended target on Kwesang Peak pic.twitter.com/S45KUN0YA3 — RT (@RT_com) October 23, 2025 The tests were North Korea’s first since South Korean President Lee Jae Myung took office in June, pledging dialogue with Pyongyang. Kim has rejected talks, demanding Washington drop its denuclearization policy while continuing to expand his missile and nuclear arsenal.   Sources: News Agencies