In other news

A homeowner inspecting the crawl space beneath a residence on Forest Road in Big Bear Lake, California, discovered human remains on October 28, 2020. Authorities recovered the remains and an autopsy determined the death was a homicide, but initial DNA testing and other investigative work did not identify the victim. The remains were concealed beneath the property without the homeowner’s knowledge; officials have not explained how or when they were placed there. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Cold Case Homicide Team took over the investigation in 2023 and submitted the remains for further DNA analysis. Investigators identified the victim as Jill Maiorca, 29, who had been reported missing from Big Bear Lake in 2007. Evidence developed during the renewed investigation indicated that she was murdered in November 2006, about a year before she was reported missing. Investigators later named Maiorca’s former husband, Jeff Maiorca, as a suspect. Court records show he filed for divorce in 2004, in a case involving minor children. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or publicly detailed all the evidence linking him to the killing or the concealment of the remains. Jeff Maiorca, now 53, was arrested without incident on September 21, 2026, and booked into Big Bear Jail on suspicion of murder. Reports cited in the article said he was held without bail and that he was detained at a Big Bear Lake library. He has been accused, but the allegations have not been adjudicated in court. His arraignment, initially scheduled for September 23, was continued to October 12. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that he faces first- and second-degree murder charges and an enhancement alleging use of a deadly weapon. The homicide investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have asked anyone with information about Jill Maiorca’s disappearance or death to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail.

In the 1980s, Dr. Shin Theke Kang and his wife, Tae Sue Kang, chose to protect land in southwestern Will County, Illinois, rather than develop it. Over several decades, they restored former agricultural areas and helped establish a diverse woodland along Horse Creek. Their efforts included hiring a company to plant about 40,000 trees; more than 32,000 of those trees have survived without irrigation. The woodland now includes black walnut, oak, maple, ash, pine and cherry, alongside older trees that were already on the property. A particularly notable feature is a bur oak believed to be hundreds of years old. On September 9, 2026, the Forest Preserve District of Will County purchased all 126 acres. The land will become Horse Creek Preserve, Kang Woodland, bringing a privately protected landscape into the county’s public preserve system and honoring the family’s conservation work. The property is in Custer Township and follows Horse Creek, which flows into the Kankakee River near the Wauponsee Trail. The article explains that creek corridors support wildlife movement, vegetation and water quality, and that protecting land along a stream can benefit the broader watershed. The district may need to assess the land, identify sensitive habitats and plan visitor access before opening it. Any public use will need to be balanced with protecting mature trees, the creek and wildlife from disturbance or damage. The preserve’s name will recognize the Kangs’ long-term commitment and illustrate how decisions by individual landowners can shape a natural area that ultimately becomes a public resource.

Public libraries across the United States are expanding their role beyond lending books, offering cardholders free digital entertainment, technology assistance, community programs, repair events and, in some places, discounts at local businesses. The article highlights Glenview Public Library in Illinois, which partnered with local businesses during September’s Library Card Sign-Up Month. Deals included discounts on purchases and services, such as 10% off wine and a free month of robotics classes. These offers are especially attractive as household costs rise; consumer prices were up 3.4% over the previous year, and a cited survey found Americans spend an average of $111 a month on streaming services. Libraries also provide access to ebooks, audiobooks, movies and television through platforms such as Libby and Hoopla. Some train librarians as “digital navigators” to help people use devices, create resumes and address technology or accessibility problems. Others offer repair programs, food distribution and free places to gather. The increased variety of services coincides with rising membership in some locations: Brooklyn Public Library recorded 150,018 new registrations through August 2026, 16% more than in the same period two years earlier. Glenview added 2,656 cardholders by August 31, an 8% annual increase, and reported a 38% rise in circulation of digital and streaming content. The article considers whether growing library use could signal financial strain. Research offers mixed evidence: library use rose modestly during the Great Recession in one study, while an earlier study found no significant general relationship between local economic conditions and library use. Increased registrations could reflect tighter budgets, expanded library services, a search for free community spaces, or younger people’s interest in analogue activities. The article concludes that the figures do not prove a recession is approaching, but show libraries becoming newly relevant as households seek entertainment and services without another monthly bill.

Michael Chorba, a 60-year-old grandfather in Pennsylvania, has transformed his backyard into a private amusement area for his family, adding a go-kart track, a 105-foot waterslide, a restored 1957 carousel and, most recently, a small roller coaster called The Tidal Wave. The coaster, which measures about 34 by 72 feet and has an 18-foot-high control station, cost about $24,700 including lighting and new decals. Chorba says the rides are a family hobby and meant for his grandchildren, not for public use. The coaster has triggered a zoning dispute in Mount Pleasant Township. Township zoning officer Ed Sanders said the local code does not specifically permit roller coasters or other attractions that are not expressly listed. Chorba applied for a permit after Sanders noticed the ride; the application was rejected, and Chorba was advised to seek a variance. At the zoning board hearing, one of three members recused himself because he lives nearby. One remaining member moved to approve the request, but the other did not second the motion, so the variance could not be approved. The township treats Chorba’s earlier projects differently. Sanders said waterslides are covered by the municipal planning code, so the slide’s size and origin do not affect whether it is permitted. Chorba’s carousel, bought for $28,000, was placed inside a gazebo for which he had obtained a zoning permit. The coaster is still being restored, with Chorba and his family waiting for new lap bars. Chorba says removing the ride would upset his youngest granddaughter, who considers it part of her play area. He rejected suggestions to turn the property into a public attraction, saying he wants it to remain a family playground. After the board did not approve the variance, he appealed to county court. The court sent the case back to the zoning board, which is expected to hold another hearing after receiving the official decision.

A GoFundMe campaign created after Daunte Wright was fatally shot in Minnesota in 2021 raised $1,039,207 from nearly 29,000 donors. The campaign described uses including funeral expenses, grief counselling, family support and efforts to seek justice, and referred to supporting Wright’s infant son. It listed Wright’s aunt, Kelly Bryant, as organiser and his parent, Arbuey Wright, as beneficiary; the page said the parents would control and manage the funds. In October 2022, Chyna Whitaker, the mother of Wright’s only child, sued Wright’s parents and attorney Ben Crump. Her complaint alleged that she had been assured that half the fundraiser proceeds—about $519,495—would go to her son, Daunte Wright Jr. Whitaker said she relied on those assurances and did not start a separate fundraiser. She sought more than $500,000 and brought claims including breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation. The article emphasizes that these are allegations in a complaint, not court findings. The dispute concerned the alleged private promises about the child’s share and how those promises related to the public fundraiser page, which gave Wright’s parents control of the money. The article does not report a resolution of the GoFundMe lawsuit. It distinguishes the donations from a separate $3.25 million settlement that Brooklyn Center agreed to pay Wright’s family in 2022. A court-approved plan reportedly set aside more than $2 million of that settlement for Wright Jr. The article frames the case as an example of the complications that can arise when public fundraisers, stated uses and alleged private assurances create competing expectations about who is entitled to the funds.

A 50-year-old jewellery shop owner, Niranjan Chandra Sutradhar, was identified after his body was found inside a drum floating near a sluice gate in Begunbari, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Local residents spotted the drum on Wednesday, and police found a man’s body wrapped in cloth inside it. A token from the Mymensingh Hindu Cooperative Credit Union Limited, found in the victim’s trouser pocket, helped police identify him by contacting the organisation. His wife, Sumita Rani Sutradhar, and son, Joy Sutradhar, later confirmed his identity. Sutradhar ran a jointly owned jewellery shop in the Atharbari Building area of Mymensingh city and lived with his family in a rented home in the Stadium area. He had gone missing on September 20. His family did not file a general diary because, according to the report, he had previously been away from home for several days before returning. Police said the body bore sharp-weapon injuries to the head and chest. Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Shibirul Islam said investigators initially believed Sutradhar had been killed and his body thrown into the water after being placed in the drum. Police had not identified a suspect or determined a motive in the initial investigation. No arrests had been made by Friday morning. As of Thursday night, a case had not yet been registered; police said the family was in the process of filing a complaint.

An independent review commissioned by Utah Valley University (UVU) found shortcomings in the university’s planning and coordination for the September 10, 2025 event at which conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot. Brett Parkinson, an attorney for Kirk’s family, said the findings support the family’s claims that UVU security was understaffed and unprepared, and that the university had responsibility for attendees’ safety. The family is seeking accountability for what it describes as security failures. The 158-page review found that UVU had safety policies, personnel and resources, but did not implement them consistently. It identified the absence of a comprehensive written security assessment and event action plan, as well as a lack of documented sightline analysis and adequate planning for elevated vantage points, building access and other site-specific risks. A joint security briefing and venue walkthrough involving UVU police and Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the event organizer, did not occur. The report said UVU staff raised concerns about holding the event in the fountain courtyard and suggested other venues, but TPUSA requested an outdoor event. TPUSA initially estimated attendance at about 600, while its preference to handle ticketing itself limited UVU’s access to reliable attendance information. TPUSA security also raised concerns about access to the elevated Hall of Flags walkway. UVU police cleared and taped off the area after concerns were raised on the morning of the event. A proposed 11 a.m. meeting between UVU Police Chief Jeff Long and TPUSA security did not take place. Although the review identified areas needing improvement, it found no evidence that a UVU employee or agent acted in bad faith or showed willful and wanton disregard for safety. UVU said it is improving security planning, training and coordination, and has created a Chief Public Safety Officer position. The review was conducted by a consortium of experts, who interviewed more than 70 people and examined thousands of pages of records and communications.

The Times of India reports that Pinkchyu, described in the headline as Drake’s girlfriend, accidentally disclosed her age during an appearance on streamer N3on’s livestream. Pinkchyu, a cosplayer, artist, and voice actress from Austin, Texas, has generally kept personal details private. She previously worked as a VTuber and later appeared on camera more often, while building an online career through creative work and content. During a casual conversation on N3on’s stream, Pinkchyu revealed that she was 24. She appeared shocked when she realized viewers had heard the information, and her immediate reaction became a prominent moment from the broadcast. The timing drew additional attention because she had turned 24 only a few days earlier. The article emphasizes that the disclosure was not presented as a planned announcement. Clips of the moment spread online and attracted attention from viewers. The story says Pinkchyu has not publicly commented on the incident, leaving it unclear whether she had intended to share her age at another time or preferred to keep it private. It frames the episode as a rare glimpse into a part of her life she had kept from the public, and as an example of how quickly a personal detail can circulate when revealed during a livestream.

In 1981, Rose Lane inherited family land in Georgia after her grandmother died. She and her husband, musician Chuck Leavell, gradually expanded the property by purchasing adjoining parcels. What began as roughly 1,000 acres eventually grew into Charlane Woodlands and Preserve, a 4,000-acre estate outside Macon, with approximately 70% of its land under forest cover. Leavell was already pursuing a successful music career, including work with the Allman Brothers Band and the Rolling Stones, when he took on greater responsibility for the property. He taught himself about forestry through reading, conversations with other landowners, and correspondence study while touring. His learning covered forest management, prescribed burning, and long-term timber cultivation. He came to see a connection between his musical career and forestry: wood was essential to the instruments he played, while the trees on his land could be carefully grown and harvested. Charlane shifted from a property associated with crops and livestock toward managed forestry. Its tree cover includes Southern yellow pines, such as loblolly and longleaf, as well as native hardwoods. Timber production involves practices such as thinning and harvesting, while wildlife management supports species including bobwhite quail, deer, turkey, and ducks. Prescribed burns are also used to shape vegetation and maintain habitat. The estate includes the restored Bullard House, an early 19th-century farmhouse, and buildings such as a guest lodge made with timber from the property. A woodworking shop allows some harvested or fallen trees to be reused, including an old red oak that Leavell had milled for possible furniture-making. Leavell’s work at Charlane also developed into a public commitment to forestry education and conservation. He has written about forests and participated in related projects. His recognition includes being named National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year in 1999, twice receiving Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year recognition, and being made an honorary forest ranger by the U.S. Forest Service. The article presents Charlane as both a working forest and the practical expression of Leavell’s second career, sustained alongside his music career.

The article traces On’s growth from a running-shoe experiment in Switzerland to a multibillion-dollar sportswear company, and explains how Kylian Mbappé’s 2026 partnership signals its move into football. In 2010, retired endurance athlete Olivier Bernhard experimented with shoe cushioning, at one point gluing pieces of garden hose to a sole. The idea developed into CloudTec, On’s outsole technology, designed to cushion landings while supporting a responsive push-off. Bernhard founded On in Zurich with Caspar Coppetti and David Allemann; the company’s first shoes reached specialist running stores in July 2010. On initially concentrated on running, then expanded internationally and into apparel, tennis and lifestyle products. Tennis champion Roger Federer joined as an equity partner and product-development collaborator in 2019. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021. Its 2025 net sales reached CHF 3.014 billion, up 30% from the prior year, and its market capitalisation was around $10 billion by September 2026. The article presents Mbappé’s September 2026 agreement as a major strategic step. After ending a long relationship with Nike, the French footballer joined On as a global partner and shareholder, with a role in developing its football products and strategy. On is working with Mbappé, former France and Arsenal player Thierry Henry, and Swiss footballer Sydney Schertenleib on its first football cleats, which are expected to reach the market in 2027. The deal resembles Federer’s partnership: rather than only promoting existing products, the athletes have equity and input into product development. The article frames the arrangement as an opportunity for On to challenge established football brands and for Mbappé to help build a new product category.

In 2024, New York-based art dealer Allen Treibitz bought a painting for $50 at a barn sale in the Hamptons, without initially knowing its significance. After researching the signed canvas, he contacted Heffel Fine Art Auction House in Vancouver. Specialists authenticated it as Emily Carr’s 1912 oil painting Masset, Q.C.I., measuring approximately 41 by 33 centimetres. Carr is among Canada’s most celebrated artists and was closely associated with the country’s Group of Seven-era art movement. The painting depicts an Indigenous memorial post topped by a carved grizzly bear in Masset, a village on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii archipelago, then known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. It dates from a period when Carr documented British Columbia’s landscapes and Indigenous subjects. An inscription on the back refers to an address on Boulevard Montparnasse in Paris, believed to be connected to Carr’s studies there around 1910 and 1911. The work’s history may also link it to Carr’s friends Nell Cozier and her husband, to whom she is believed to have given it in the 1930s. The couple later moved from Victoria to the Hamptons to work on a large estate, and the painting apparently remained in a barn for decades. Heffel estimated the work at C$100,000 to C$200,000 for its November 20, 2024 Toronto auction. Competitive bidding brought a hammer price of C$290,000, above the high estimate. Including fees, the final price was C$349,250. The discovery transformed an overlooked barn-sale purchase into a notable auction find.

A 78-year-old Indian-origin woman was robbed of gold jewelry while taking an evening walk in her Brampton, Canada, neighborhood. According to her son, Raghavendra Kumar, the woman does not speak English and believed the stranger who approached her might be a neighbor or someone she knew. The woman allegedly bent to touch her feet and hugged her, leaving the victim confused and shocked. During the brief encounter, the suspect placed fake jewelry around the woman’s neck while taking her real gold necklace, and also stole her gold bangles before leaving in an SUV. The theft occurred on July 28. Kumar spoke to CTV News after Toronto police released footage of a similar robbery, which may have involved the same suspects. Peel Police confirmed they knew of two jewelry thefts with similar patterns, but had not yet established a link between them or made a breakthrough in the investigation. Kumar said his mother did not realize she had been robbed until the suspects left. She was shaking, struggled to walk, and could not speak for about 30 minutes after returning home. He said the family’s immediate concern was her health, while the jewelry also held deep sentimental significance: her late husband, who died around 2008, had given it to her when they married in 1971. He was a goldsmith and made the pieces himself. Kumar estimated that about 110 grams of jewelry was taken, with a raw-metal value of approximately C$20,000. The experience has also affected his mother’s routine; she once looked forward to evening walks but has stopped walking outside since the robbery.

The Times of India reports that streamer IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren, spoke on X about feeling lonely despite his global fame. In a community Q&A on September 25, 2026, he responded to a question about whether he still wakes up feeling alone even with money and millions of fans. He said that many people know his energetic online persona, “Speed,” but comparatively few know him as Darren. The contrast can be stark: after crowds cheer for him, returning to a quiet hotel room can feel unsettling. He said he stays grounded through training, anime, learning piano, and spending time with his family. His mother, father, and brother knew him before his success, he explained, and their connection helps him remain himself. IShowSpeed also reflected on how quickly his circumstances changed. He said that he and his mother faced financial hardship when he was younger, and that he began streaming regularly at 15. He was earning five figures then and used the money to help his mother pay bills; he said he became a millionaire at 17. Despite that success, he described pursuing a dream—not money—as his original motivation for streaming. He added that his content has changed as his audience and reach have grown. Responding to a question about “girl content,” he said a larger platform brings greater responsibility and means he has to act differently. He also said awards matter less to him than the work itself. The article presents these remarks as a more private and reflective side of a streamer widely known for his energetic persona, emphasizing his loneliness, family ties, personal interests, and growing sense of responsibility.

The article describes Elon Musk’s approach to meetings and workplace communication at Tesla. Speaking with Edison International Chairman Ted Craver at the 2015 Edison Electric Institute Annual Convention in New Orleans, Musk said employees should leave meetings if they were neither contributing nor gaining anything useful. When Craver asked whether walking out would be considered rude, Musk replied that it was expected—and that staying without a purpose was rude. Musk argued that employees who were only looking at a phone or laptop could do so at their desks, and characterized meetings as a major drain on time. The article connects those comments to guidance Musk later gave Tesla employees. In an April 2018 email, sent while the company was trying to increase Model 3 production, he recommended eliminating large meetings unless they clearly provided value to everyone attending, and keeping necessary ones short. He also advised against frequent meetings except when dealing with an urgent matter, saying their frequency should fall once the issue was resolved. Musk’s recommendations extended beyond meetings. He urged employees to communicate through the shortest route needed to get work done rather than automatically following the management chain of command. He also discouraged internal acronyms and unfamiliar terminology, arguing that anything requiring explanation impeded communication and that employees should not need to memorize a glossary to function at Tesla. The article notes that the 2018 email resurfaced when an X user shared it and Musk affirmed its authenticity.

Kai Cenat has said he wants to take his livestreams to the Seven Wonders of the World, extending the travel-focused content he is currently making in Iceland. The article reports that Cenat shared the idea while creating content from inside a volcano. His proposed destinations include the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, Machu Picchu, Petra, Chichén Itzá, and Christ the Redeemer. Viewers have responded positively to his recent travel streams, and some are interested in seeing him visit these landmarks. However, Cenat has not announced a schedule or confirmed that the tour will happen. The idea has also prompted comparisons with IShowSpeed, another streamer known for international livestreams and visits to well-known locations. Some viewers accused Cenat of copying Speed, with one calling him out for wanting to be Speed and another alleging that he was taking other people’s content. Other commenters treated the resemblance as unremarkable, suggesting that drawing inspiration from another creator is acceptable. Some fans were simply enthusiastic, describing the potential tour as “Peak content incoming.” The article characterizes the response as mixed: Cenat’s travel plans have generated both excitement and criticism. While some viewers see a similarity to IShowSpeed’s established travel-streaming style, others are interested in watching Cenat explore new places. Ultimately, the proposal remains only a plan; whether Cenat actually visits the Seven Wonders on stream has yet to be confirmed.

Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg donated $1.48 million to Wilcox Medical Center in Līhuʻe, Hawaii, through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The gift will support a mobile MRI unit, a new 3D mammography machine, and renovations needed to install the mammography equipment. The mobile unit is intended to keep MRI services available while the hospital’s existing MRI suite undergoes a renovation expected to last at least eight months. Wilcox performs more than 4,000 MRI scans annually and conducted more than 8,500 mammograms in the previous year. The new mammography machine will add to services at Wilcox, which began offering 3D mammography in 2010 and provides breast imaging, biopsies, and other women’s health care. The article notes that advanced imaging is especially relevant in Hawaii, where dense breast tissue can make cancer detection more difficult. The donation adds to more than $4 million that Chan and Zuckerberg have given Wilcox through five separate gifts. Previous support funded medical equipment, telemedicine, COVID-19 relief, and improvements to the emergency department and trauma centre. In 2022, they contributed $1.8 million toward an upgraded CT scanner. Wilcox is a not-for-profit hospital founded in 1938 and the largest medical centre on Kauaʻi. It is part of Hawaiʻi Pacific Health and serves island residents with a range of specialties; it is also Kauaʻi’s only Level III Trauma Center and a Primary Stroke Center. The article places the gift within the couple’s broader Hawaii philanthropy: the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative says they have committed more than $100 million to over 100 Hawaii nonprofit organizations since 2016, supporting areas including health care, education, conservation, and community development.

Jessica Lee, a 17-year-old senior at Punahou School in Honolulu, received the Congressional Award Gold Medal in August. The award recognizes young people who complete a two-year program involving community service, personal development, physical fitness, and a multi-day expedition. Lee exceeded its requirements, completing 420 hours of volunteer service, alongside the required development, fitness, and expedition components. Her volunteer work has focused particularly on health care and older adults. Inspired partly by her grandfather’s experience navigating lung cancer diagnosis and treatment in Korea, Lee became interested in health literacy and patient advocacy. She volunteered at St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaiʻi, where she observed health-care settings and saw how language barriers could prevent families from understanding medical information. She later founded CHAMP, a nonprofit that holds health-literacy workshops and has partnered with the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center Skin Van. At school, she helps lead a program serving kūpuna in Mānoa. Lee also competes on Punahou’s Varsity I girls golf team, which won three consecutive state championships; she placed second individually in the state in 2024. Her other pursuits include violin and advocacy for Korean language and heritage in school curricula. That effort began in seventh grade and included a petition signed by 300 students and presentations to neighborhood boards and the Hawaiʻi Legislature. As she applies to college, Lee hopes to become a physician working at the intersection of public health and culture. Congressman Ed Case presented her medal and a certificate of special recognition; she is the seventh person from his district to earn the honor in 25 years.

The article describes a 2019 Greenpeace expedition to the Sargasso Sea, during which actress Shailene Woodley joined scientists collecting samples to study microplastic pollution. The remote North Atlantic region is defined by ocean currents rather than a coastline, and those currents can concentrate floating material far from where plastic was originally discarded. One sample reportedly contained 1,298 microplastic fragments, a concentration the article says exceeded levels found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It cautions that a single sample is only a snapshot: concentrations vary with location, depth, currents, and sampling conditions. The expedition highlights why apparently clear offshore water can still contain substantial pollution. Microplastics—tiny particles created as larger plastic breaks down, or manufactured at small sizes—are difficult to see, track, and remove. Their presence in a remote ecosystem also shows that marine plastic pollution cannot be understood only as visible litter on beaches. The Sargasso Sea matters not just as a place to measure particles but as habitat. Floating Sargassum mats shelter juvenile sea turtles and other marine life, raising questions about how microplastics interact with organisms and food webs. The article notes that effects depend on the species, plastic type, concentration, and environmental conditions. Woodley’s participation was connected to Greenpeace’s broader campaign for stronger protection of international waters and the High Seas Treaty, which aims to establish a legal framework for conserving marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. The article says she wanted the expedition to lead to meaningful action, not merely publicity, and later advocated with policymakers and United Nations officials. It presents the Sargasso Sea as a real-world setting for studying pollution under ocean conditions, while emphasizing that currents carry plastic across vast distances and often make its original source impossible to identify.

Three siblings, Foulla Bowler, John Barberis and Mary Englishby, have been ordered to pay their neighbours Robert and Amanda McCarthy about £30,500 in damages and £178,668 towards their legal costs after cutting down Leylandii trees in Nazeing, Essex. The dispute concerned the boundary between the neighbouring gardens and a row of trees, about 33 feet tall, that stood beside an old fence. The McCarthys believed the fence marked the boundary; the siblings argued that the boundary lay beyond it and that the trees were on their land, where they caused overshadowing and could threaten their property. The conflict escalated in January 2022, when the fence was removed and most of the trees were felled. The McCarthys said the work left their garden exposed and cost them their privacy. They told the court that they stopped using the garden and inviting visitors, including their children’s friends. Amanda McCarthy also said the stress had affected her mental health. In an earlier judgment, Judge Alan Saggerson ruled that the boundary followed the old fence and that the siblings had trespassed by removing trees from the McCarthys’ land. He found the siblings’ evidence less reliable, but did not conclude that they had lied, saying they had persuaded themselves that their position was right. He described their conduct as unilateral action during “fence wars” and criticised it as high-handed and bullying. The judge said the tree removal significantly affected the McCarthys’ use and enjoyment of their home and exposed their garden to unwanted attention. The McCarthys sought £105,000 to replace the trees with specimens around eight metres tall. The judge rejected that sum as unreasonable, awarding £5,000 for smaller trees that could grow over time. The siblings are selling, or are expected to sell, their childhood home.

Employees at a Vancouver-based company discovered 14 duffle bags containing 328.55 kilograms of cocaine while sorting a legitimate shipment of T-shirts. Police valued the drugs at approximately C$5.8 million and described the seizure as the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the Vancouver Police Department. The company had ordered the clothing and, police emphasized, had no known connection to the cocaine. Its employees contacted police immediately after finding the bags; officers seized the drugs at the business on July 21. Police say the quantity of cocaine, along with stamps and packaging found with it, indicates that organised crime was involved. Investigators are tracing the container’s international route to establish who arranged the shipment and who was meant to receive the drugs. It left Honduras on May 18, stopped in Jamaica on June 6, and arrived in Montreal on July 5 before reaching Vancouver. Investigators suspect the cocaine was supposed to be removed from the container before it reached the T-shirt company, but for an unknown reason it remained inside. The discovery has prompted an international investigation involving law enforcement in Canada, Honduras, Jamaica, and the United States. Authorities are examining how the drugs were concealed among the legitimate clothing order and how they passed through the shipment’s journey without being unloaded. No arrests had been made when police announced the seizure, and police asked anyone with relevant information to come forward. Unlike a seizure resulting from a targeted operation, this discovery occurred as workers unpacked an ordinary commercial delivery. The shipment’s route and the unexpected discovery have made the Vancouver business the centre of a major investigation into an apparent international cocaine shipment.

An Indian-origin family says they learned about a year after the fact that the US visa of their mother-in-law had been revoked. She was due to travel to the United States in 2026, but was informed at the airport that her B1/B2 visa—valid until 2033—was no longer valid. The family reviewed her previous trip and identified a possible explanation: her I-94 authorized her to stay through March 4, 2025, but her return flight to India was booked for March 5. They say they did not realize that the one-day overstay might affect the visa and received no notification from US authorities. They later saw “REVOKED” in the State Department’s Consular Electronic Application Center system. The article explains that a visa and an I-94 serve different purposes. A visa allows a traveler to seek entry at a US port of entry, while Customs and Border Protection determines the authorized length of stay and records it on the I-94. Under Section 222(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a nonimmigrant visa generally becomes void if its holder stays beyond the authorized I-94 date, unless an exception applies, such as a timely, non-frivolous application to extend or change status. The law does not specify a minimum overstay period. However, the article cautions that the family’s account does not establish that the one-day overstay caused the revocation. The practical next step would generally be to apply for a new B1/B2 visa and disclose the overstay accurately. The traveler could explain that she left voluntarily after one day and provide evidence of her departure and travel history. A consular officer would assess the application based on individual circumstances, travel plans, finances, and ties outside the United States. Social media users also advised travelers not to leave their return plans until the final day of an authorized stay.

Updated September 17, the US State Department’s visa appointment data shows that Indian applicants for B-1/B-2 visitor visas face the longest waits. The next available interview was listed at 12 months in Hyderabad, 11.5 months in Mumbai, 10 months in New Delhi and 7.5 months in Chennai. Average waits differ from next-available appointments: Hyderabad’s average was 11.5 months, Mumbai’s 11 months, New Delhi’s 7.5 months and Chennai’s seven months. The figures are estimates, not guarantees, because consulates may add appointment slots. Appointments for student and exchange visitor categories (F, M and J) were available much sooner: less than half a month in Chennai, 1.5 months in Hyderabad, 2.5 months in Mumbai and two months in New Delhi. Petition-based work visa appointments (H, L, O, P and Q) varied, from 1.5 months in Chennai and Mumbai to 5.5 months in Hyderabad and three months in New Delhi. Month-to-month changes were mixed. Mumbai’s average B-1/B-2 wait decreased from 14 months in August to 11 months in September, while Hyderabad’s rose from 9.5 to 11.5 months; New Delhi remained at 7.5 months. The next available appointment improved in Mumbai but lengthened in Hyderabad and New Delhi. The State Department says applicants may find earlier openings as new slots are released and can use the scheduling system to move an existing appointment. Wait estimates are calculated in 30-day increments, with half-month increments representing 15 days. Interview-waiver appointments are excluded, and some applicants may qualify for a waiver. Overall, the data highlights a marked difference between lengthy visitor visa queues and the shorter waits for student and work visa appointments.

The article examines the role of Christos Marafatsos, a Greek-American businessman and registered lobbyist, in accompanying US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to high-level meetings promoting US energy interests in southeastern Europe. Citing a Wall Street Journal investigation, it says Marafatsos has appeared alongside Guilfoyle despite having no official government position, and that some foreign officials reportedly believed he was part of her diplomatic team. Marafatsos represents Greek construction company Aktor Group, which has expanded into natural gas. Guilfoyle has promoted a proposed “vertical gas corridor” intended to carry US liquefied natural gas through Greece and north toward countries including Ukraine. During a visit to Bulgaria, she reportedly encouraged officials to work with Aktor and met with the Bulgarian president while Marafatsos was present. The article also reports that Aktor’s chief executive flew Guilfoyle to Bulgaria on a private jet, and that Marafatsos did not disclose his Aktor relationship at some meetings. Lobbying records cited by the Journal show Aktor registered him in November and paid him $160,000 through June to help build connections with the White House, State Department, and Energy Department. Marafatsos’s background includes business ventures in Maryland and longstanding ties to Donald Trump’s political operation. He chaired Greek Voices for Trump, reportedly helped prepare Guilfoyle for her Senate confirmation hearing, and attended her swearing-in. Guilfoyle’s lawyer denies she improperly promoted a single company, saying her meetings are conducted through embassy channels. Marafatsos says he supports initiatives that advance US interests and create economic opportunities. Aktor’s lawyers dispute that Guilfoyle’s involvement prompted the company’s participation, asserting it began before contact with the ambassador.

The article examines how Princess Diana’s public image has continued to change since her death in Paris in 1997. Rather than being remembered as one person, Diana has become a collection of sometimes contradictory figures: princess, wife, mother, fashion icon, charity advocate, victim and cultural symbol. The article uses a disputed recollection in Charles Spencer’s memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” to introduce the question of whether the public has forgotten Diana herself while continuing to remember—and remake—her. Spencer recalls an argument with then-Prince Charles over whether William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin, and says Charles predicted she would soon be forgotten. Buckingham Palace disputes Spencer’s account, suggesting grief can affect memory and judgment; Spencer stands by it. The article argues that Diana’s image was being shaped even while she was alive. Public interpretations turned her gestures, photographs, clothing and private troubles into evidence for larger stories about sensitivity, unhappiness, royalty and national mythology. Author Edward White describes this composite image as a cultural “cut-and-shut,” assembled from different, sometimes conflicting identities. After Diana’s death, her story continued to travel and take on local meanings. In South Asian communities, she could represent a daughter-in-law resisting family expectations, while an imagined “Raj Kumari Diana ji of Southallpur” adapted her into a playful local figure. A young woman in Pune, Apoorva Jyoti, describes Diana as the “People’s Princess,” a charitable and empathetic role model who confronted patriarchy and had a tumultuous marriage. Her account illustrates the article’s central point: people who never knew Diana can still hold a vivid, meaningful picture of her. But that picture may reveal as much about the needs and values of those remembering her as it does about Diana herself. The supplied article ends mid-sentence as it calls Diana a “jigsaw puzzle.”

Adnoc’s international investment unit XRG has made a final investment decision with Azerbaijan’s Socar and France’s TotalEnergies to advance development of the Absheron offshore gas and condensate field in the Caspian Sea. XRG owns 30 per cent of the venture, while Socar and TotalEnergies each hold 35 per cent. XRG’s stake was first announced in 2023, and the decision was announced during the Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku. The companies did not disclose the investment amount. Production is projected to begin in 2029. At full output, the field is expected to produce as much as 600 million cubic feet (17 million cubic metres) of gas and 47,000 barrels of condensate per day. Recoverable gas resources are estimated at up to five trillion cubic feet. XRG’s president of international gas, Mohamed Al Aryani, described the development as an important step for the company and said it would reinforce Azerbaijan’s position as an energy partner and bridge between Caspian resources and international markets. XRG says the project supports energy security, economic value and long-term growth. Launched in 2024 with an enterprise value exceeding $80 billion, XRG describes itself as an international lower-carbon energy and chemicals investment company. It is expanding its global portfolio and aims to double its asset value over the next decade. Recent activity includes agreements with German companies involving LNG, renewable energy, advanced materials and technology; an offshore gas project in Venezuela with BP and Qatar’s UCC Holding; agreements with Italy’s Eni and Argentina’s YPF for stakes in upstream blocks; and an increased stake in the US Rio Grande LNG project. Azerbaijan has nearly 1.7 trillion cubic metres of gas reserves, according to data cited in the article, and energy products make up almost 90 per cent of its exports. Its location between the Caspian region, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe is seen as an advantage for energy trade and development. XRG says its investments in Absheron, the Southern Gas Corridor and other Caspian opportunities form part of a long-term growth platform and support regional energy security.

The United States is increasing pressure on Sudan’s warring parties in an effort to end the conflict, US envoy Massad Boulos told The National. Washington’s refusal to issue Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) commander Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan a visa to attend the UN General Assembly was intended to signal its disapproval of the SAF’s position and conduct. The US remains in contact with both the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but Boulos said both sides are wasting time by pursuing a military victory. Boulos said the US supports a civilian-led peace process based on the Berlin conference outcomes and facilitated by the Quintet: the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Arab League, the European Union and the United Nations. He described a Sudanese-owned, inclusive dialogue as the path to a civilian-led government, while acknowledging that the armed parties have rejected the process or failed to engage in good faith. The pressure campaign includes sanctions and a US effort to expand the 20-year-old UN arms embargo on Darfur so it better reflects the current conflict, including the use of drones and foreign-supplied weapons. The US accepted a short technical extension of the existing embargo to allow negotiations to continue. Boulos said Washington would explore other measures with partners, including addressing Sudan’s gold trade, which he described as helping fuel the war. The interview also discusses Libya, where rival political factions signed a UN-backed agreement in August to amend electoral laws and work towards elections within 24 months. Boulos said the US, Turkey, Egypt and European and Arab partners are seeking to unify Libya’s institutions during the transition. He expressed optimism about recent progress. The supplied article text ends mid-sentence while describing that momentum.

The body of an Indian man who was killed in Sharjah last month has been repatriated to India, the Indian consulate confirmed. The consulate said the body was returned on Thursday after the death was registered with the Indian mission. It had also been in contact with the man’s family and employer to offer assistance in the UAE. Sharjah Police said they received a report of a death believed to have resulted from a criminal act and sent specialist teams to the scene. The body was referred to a forensic laboratory on the order of the Public Prosecution. The Criminal Investigations Department’s inquiry identified suspects, and police took legal action before referring the case to prosecutors to complete legal procedures. The police statement said the investigation had uncovered the circumstances of the death, but did not provide further details about the suspects or the case. Police also disputed Indian media reports that the victim’s wife and son had gone missing after the killing. The investigation found that they had left the UAE voluntarily for India, and police said no missing-person reports had been filed for either of them. Sharjah Police urged the public and media to rely on official channels, check information before sharing it, and avoid publishing unverified claims. The force warned that misinformation could affect legal proceedings. The article does not report any charges, a motive, or further identifying details about the victim.

The article previews England’s Nations League match against Spain at Wembley, focusing on the individual achievements and Ballon d’Or claims of Spain’s Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane. At 19, Yamal has already won major titles with Spain and Barcelona, recorded strong scoring and assist totals, and begun the new season in exceptional form. His contributions helped Spain maintain a 38-match unbeaten run, although a hamstring injury limited his impact at last summer’s World Cup. Yamal argues that he deserves the Ballon d’Or, citing his trophies and the distinctive influence he has on matches, rather than goals alone. Several former and current Barcelona players, including Raphinha, support his candidacy. Kane, 33, is described as the current favourite for the award. He scored 73 goals for club and country last season, helped Bayern Munich win the domestic double, and contributed six goals as England finished third at the World Cup. He has also started the new campaign strongly. England teammate Anthony Gordon sees Yamal and Kane as the leading contenders, noting both Yamal’s achievements at a young age and Kane’s historic season. While Yamal has made a public case for the award and is compared with creative greats such as Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, Kane has taken a more reserved approach, calling last season the best of his career while acknowledging the award is not his decision. The article frames the England–Spain fixture as both a major international contest and a meeting between two standout players whose contrasting records and styles make the Ballon d’Or race compelling.

George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku after leading from start to finish, holding off a late challenge from Max Verstappen. The Mercedes driver started from pole after qualifying 0.837 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. Two safety cars, triggered by crashes involving Alex Albon and Lando Norris, brought Verstappen close enough to threaten Russell, but he finished just under two-tenths of a second behind. Russell said a loss of turbo power on the final lap nearly cost him the win. The victory was his third of the season and cut the championship lead of his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, to 66 points after 15 rounds. Antonelli recovered from a qualifying crash and a start in 16th to finish fifth. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar took third on his return from a wrist injury that had kept him out for three races. The result was the 21-year-old’s third career podium. Leclerc finished fourth, Lewis Hamilton sixth, and rookie Arvid Lindblad seventh. Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman secured eighth and ninth for Haas, while Carlos Sainz completed the top ten for Williams. McLaren had a difficult race: reigning champion Lando Norris crashed out on Lap 36, and Oscar Piastri fell from a potential podium position to 14th after locking up. Norris blamed poor straight-line speed and criticized the drivers involved in the incident that ended his race. Russell, meanwhile, said he would aim to win every remaining race as the championship battle enters a decisive phase.

An exhibition at AB-Anbar Gallery in London brings together more than 300 works by over 100 Iranian artists, most of whom still live in Iran. Organised by gallery director Salman Matinfar and Tehran gallerist Orkideh Daroodi, the show was difficult to assemble amid war-related travel disruption: many works were carried in Daroodi’s luggage, while others were shipped via Oman. The exhibition aims to counter the isolation Iranian artists face because of conflict, economic sanctions and government repression, and to direct sales proceeds to artists and gallerists in Tehran. The works portray a varied artistic scene shaped by both hardship and everyday life. Several artists use Tehran’s surrounding mountains as subjects associated with escape and solace. Others depict friends, city outskirts, still lifes, landscapes and social realities. The exhibition includes figurative painting, photography, collage, embroidery and quilting, as well as politically charged portraits that evoke the trauma of protests and a violent crackdown. Matinfar notes a shift away from the abstraction that characterized some earlier generations of Iranian art toward work that is more figurative and socially responsive. The article also highlights artists’ limited resources, including painters who reuse packaging, and practitioners who adapt traditional crafts such as quilting and needlework. Matinfar hopes the exhibition will reconnect Iranian artists with the international art world and help bridge divisions among Iranians in Iran and the diaspora, including disagreements over the war and the country’s political future.

Iraq is negotiating directly with the United States for exemptions from sanctions that have disrupted Iranian airline services, seeking to allow flights to Iraqi airports for humanitarian and civilian purposes. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi’s office said the proposed exemptions would cover travel for medical treatment, education and religious visits, among other civilian interests. Baghdad also called for dialogue to ease regional tensions and prevent prolonged crises from making the situation worse. The flight suspensions followed new US Treasury sanctions targeting foreign companies that do business with Iranian carriers. The United States has expanded its use of secondary sanctions as part of an effort to isolate Iran economically and pressure it to make concessions amid regional conflict. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that companies dealing with Iranian airlines could be “knocked out of the dollar system.” Iranian flights have been banned by neighbouring countries including Iraq, the UAE and Oman. The restrictions have cut off an important route to Najaf, an Iraqi city sacred to Shiite Muslims and home to the shrine of Imam Ali. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation said ticket sales to Najaf had been suspended, while an Iranian consulate in the city condemned the closure. The flight ban could deepen Iran’s regional isolation and compound an economic crisis already worsened by a US blockade of Iranian ports. Flights to Baghdad were suspended on Wednesday, although Iranian state media had initially reported that service to Najaf would continue. The article notes that the restrictions are emerging amid escalating fighting in Yemen, stalled ceasefire efforts and a period of reduced direct US-Iranian fire.

The National explores whether ube, a sweet purple yam native to the Philippines, could become the UAE’s next major café trend after matcha. The article attributes ube’s appeal to its vivid colour, velvety texture, sweet flavour and versatility, while noting its connection to Filipino food traditions. Reporter Hala Nasar samples ube dishes and drinks at three UAE businesses and speaks with chefs and bakers about its growing popularity. At Nina’s Bakes, owner Christina Tamayo draws on childhood memories of ube in Filipino desserts and makes a cookie filled with homemade ube halaya and white chocolate. Nasar enjoys its gooey, sweet-and-savoury centre, while Tamayo suggests its photogenic colour has helped drive its popularity. Dubai restaurant Nette serves ube matcha, a milder coconut-water-and-ube “cloud” drink, crinkle cookies and a burnt Basque cheesecake. The reporter finds the cheesecake particularly successful, praising how ube works with coconut cream, miso butterscotch and toasted coconut. Culinary director Craig Small points to ube’s heritage, versatility, natural colour and plant compounds as reasons it may spread further. At Jun’s, chef Kelvin Cheung says ube can be delicate to use, especially when working with concentrated flavouring. His menu includes a coconut ube pie, calamansi spritz, cake and flan cookies. Nasar praises the pie’s balanced layers and the refreshing sweet-and-sour drink. Cheung predicts that ube could achieve global popularity comparable to matcha, including as a caffeine-free drink ingredient. He also argues that global attention for culturally rooted ingredients can encourage people to explore the cuisines they come from.

The supplied page is a live-news update page about the 2026 United Nations General Assembly, but the provided content does not include the full article text or details of the events. Its main headline says that Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister urged the international community to condemn Houthi attacks. The other visible update headlines indicate a range of diplomatic and regional-security topics: Iran’s foreign minister accused the United States of waging “economic terrorism” against Iran; Oman and Iran discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz and regional diplomacy; Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described any attack on Makkah or Madinah as a “red line”; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed attended a UAE Investment Majlis in New York; and Iraq sought energy links with Turkey, Jordan and Syria. The page is marked as updated on September 26, 2026, at 6:24 PM. Beyond these headlines and brief snippets, the supplied material consists mainly of website navigation, sharing and printing controls, subscription prompts, and other publisher information. It provides no supporting quotations, explanations, or further reporting on the statements and events, so their context and outcomes cannot be determined from the text provided. The page therefore serves as a brief roundup of diplomatic, security, and energy-related developments rather than a complete account of any one event. This summary reflects only the article-related text visible in the supplied content and does not infer missing details.

The supplied page content is a live-news headline and link roundup about the 2026 United Nations General Assembly, rather than a full article. Its lead headline reports that China’s vice president said in a UN address that “the world wants peace, not war.” The text does not include the speech itself, the vice president’s name, or additional details about the remarks, so their context and supporting arguments cannot be assessed from the material provided. Other listed updates point to several international issues and diplomatic discussions. Iran’s foreign minister is quoted accusing the United States of waging “economic terrorism” against Iran. Oman and Iran are said to have discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz and regional diplomacy. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif is reported to have called any attack on Makkah or Madinah a “red line.” The roundup also notes that UAE official Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed attended an investment gathering in New York, and that Iraq is seeking energy links with Turkey, Jordan and Syria. These are brief headlines only; the supplied content contains no supporting reporting, quotations beyond the headline phrases, or explanations of the events. It also includes extensive website navigation, sharing and printing controls, subscription prompts, and other page furniture, which are excluded from the cleaned text. Overall, the page presents a neutral news-update format, listing diplomatic statements, regional security concerns and economic or energy cooperation topics without offering enough article body text to evaluate the claims in depth.

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) says its losses have reached approximately $95 million after armed groups forced the closure of a valve on the pipeline carrying crude from the Sharara field to the Zawiya complex. The disruption has cut crude production by more than 942,000 barrels over the week, with the largest daily loss—nearly 260,000 barrels—recorded on Tuesday. To conserve supplies and keep part of the facility operating, NOC shut one of the Zawiya refinery’s units while attempting to maintain production at the other. Zawiya is Libya’s largest operating refinery, with capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. It supplies domestic markets with petrol, diesel, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, fuel oil and naphtha, and the wider site also produces asphalt and lubricants. The complex is linked to the Sharara field, a major source of crude for both domestic use and exports. NOC warned that continued disruption could reduce government oil revenues and increase the cost of importing petroleum products. It said it had arranged for crude to be shipped through a port to help supply the refinery and protect fuel deliveries to electricity-generation stations. The incident underscores the vulnerability of Libya’s oil sector amid political instability and armed conflict since Muammar Qaddafi’s overthrow in 2011. The country is divided between rival governments in Tripoli and Benghazi, while armed groups retain significant influence. Many major oilfields and export terminals are in eastern areas controlled by forces commanded by Khalifa Haftar; the UN-recognised Government of National Unity is based in the west. NOC chairman Masoud Suleman has said that developing the oil and gas sector will require up to $40 billion in investment as Libya seeks to increase production and become a more reliable supplier.

Zinedine Zidane began his tenure as France manager with a 1-0 Nations League victory over Turkey, but the result was overshadowed by an injury to Kylian Mbappe. The forward scored the decisive goal in the 55th minute after a pass from Michael Olise, then hurt his left knee while shooting and limped off. The French Football Federation said Mbappe had suffered a tendon tear and would miss the remainder of the international camp. Zidane called the injury concerning and said France would not take risks. Despite the setback, he described his debut as successful and praised his players’ pressing and performance after only three and a half training sessions. Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said his team had performed well and created chances, even though France had 64 per cent possession. France will next play Belgium, while Turkey travel to Italy. Roberto Mancini’s return as Italy manager got off to a difficult start as his side lost 2-0 at home to Belgium at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio secured the win for Belgium, whose new manager, Mark van Bommel, was also taking charge for the first time. Italian fans booed and jeered Mancini, who dismissed the reaction as part of football. He acknowledged that Italy’s World Cup play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina still weighed on the team, but urged the players to focus on the future. Sweden beat Romania 2-1 in Group B4, with Alexander Isak opening the scoring in the 20th minute. Dennis Man equalised before Viktor Gyokeres put Sweden back in front shortly before half-time. Isak, who had scored four times in five Premier League matches for Liverpool, sustained a toe injury after being stamped on and was limping after the match. The article also notes Gyokeres’s limited playing time for Arsenal early in the season.

S&P Global Ratings has raised its forecast for Oman’s real GDP growth in 2026 to 3.5 per cent, up from 1.6 per cent, citing the country’s favourable trade routes and scope to increase oil and gas production. The revised projection exceeds the 2.3 per cent growth Oman recorded last year. Unlike exporters that depend on the Strait of Hormuz, Oman’s ports—including Duqm, Mina Al Fahal and Salalah—have direct access to the Arabian Sea, allowing trade to continue despite conflict-related disruption in the region. S&P says Oman could raise crude production capacity to 1.2 million barrels per day, supporting growth through 2029. Non-oil activity also expanded by about 1.3 per cent year over year in the first half of 2026, helped by trade and logistics, IT and financial services, although tourism indicators were weaker. S&P maintained Oman’s long-term credit rating at BBB-, the lowest investment-grade level, with a stable outlook. It pointed to liquid government assets exceeding 40 per cent of GDP and foreign-currency reserves close to 20 per cent of GDP as buffers against adverse developments. The agency cautioned that prolonged attacks on energy or civilian infrastructure could weaken economic activity and public finances, while conflict-related spending could reverse fiscal consolidation. Oman is pursuing economic diversification, including plans to develop artificial-intelligence capabilities, while hydrocarbons continue to underpin infrastructure and public services. Regional co-operation has also supported logistics: goods moving through the Sharjah–Oman corridor rose by more than 66 per cent in its first three months, as shippers sought alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. S&P expects inflation to reach 2.5 per cent in 2026 before easing to between 1 and 2 per cent as food and transport costs decline.

Morocco opened its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Gabon in Rabat. Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui gave the reigning champions the lead in the 36th minute. Al Ain forward Soufiane Rahimi, introduced as a second-half substitute, sealed the result six minutes from time with a first-time finish from a Bilal El Khannouss cross. Rahimi marked his 15th goal in 44 appearances for Morocco by displaying a shin pad bearing an image of his late father, who died earlier in the month. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi also gave 17-year-old Ajax midfielder Abdellah Ouazane his senior debut, while Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi played the full match. Morocco’s next Group A fixture is away to Lesotho. Egypt, meanwhile, were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Angola in Group B. Though Egypt controlled 66 per cent of possession, Mohamed Salah and his teammates could not break through a defence organised by Angola coach Aliou Cissé, the former Senegal manager. Omar Marmoush and teenager Hamza Abdelkarim appeared as substitutes, but Egypt left Cairo without a goal. Their next match is against South Sudan. In Group I, Algeria began with a 3-1 victory over Zambia. Jaouen Hadjam, Ibrahim Maza and Anis Hadj Moussa scored for the Desert Foxes, who next travel to Burundi. The article also recalls Egypt’s recent World Cup campaign: the team reached the knockout stage for the first time in North America, but were eliminated in the last 16 after Argentina came back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2.

Syria faces a recovery that could take multiple decades, according to Tjada McKenna, chief executive of Prosper Global, formerly Mercy Corps. After visiting Aleppo, Idlib and Damascus, McKenna described widespread damage to homes and essential infrastructure, while also observing that many Syrians are optimistic about rebuilding. The World Bank estimates reconstruction will cost about $216 billion—almost ten times the size of Syria’s 2024 economy. Millions remain displaced, although more people have returned since Bashar Al Assad’s fall in December 2024. McKenna said priorities include restoring water and electricity networks, roads, hospitals and schools, as well as creating jobs and livelihoods that enable people to return. She warned that international assistance is woefully insufficient for the scale of the task. Syria’s recovery is unfolding amid numerous simultaneous emergencies and declining aid budgets, which leave humanitarian organisations trying to meet growing needs with fewer resources. McKenna said Syria might have received a larger response if its war had ended before current budget pressures. Prosper Global continues to provide emergency cash assistance to displaced Syrians while shifting more attention toward longer-term recovery, including water infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods. McKenna stressed that Syrians want opportunities to work and access markets rather than simply receive handouts. The lifting of Western sanctions could allow more companies and suppliers to operate in the country and potentially support investment, but the scale of destruction and competition for international aid mean the transition from relief to economic recovery will be slow. The interview also describes the organisation’s work in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo. McKenna cited persistent shelter, water and sanitation needs in Gaza and severe humanitarian conditions in Sudan and Yemen. She also expressed concern for aid workers, noting that about 90 per cent of Prosper Global’s staff live and work in the communities they serve.

US sanctions and flight suspensions are making travel between Iran and other countries increasingly difficult, forcing some passengers to undertake a roughly 2,400-kilometre journey by coach from Tehran to Istanbul. In Istanbul’s Fatih district, travellers told The National they had spent three days on the road after flights were cancelled. One couple made the trip to sit an IELTS exam that was no longer available in Iran. The disruption follows a renewed US sanctions campaign targeting Iran’s aviation sector, including measures against airlines and foreign firms that provide them with airport services. Services to Iran have been halted by Turkish carriers, while other countries have stopped flights or denied overflight permission. The article describes wider economic and social effects. Coach demand and rising fuel prices have pushed ticket costs up by a third, even as fewer Iranians travel to Turkey for leisure. An Iranian resident said he no longer knew when he could travel to Oman for work. Interviewees and an Iran-focused political economy observer argue that air restrictions further isolate ordinary people, separating them from relatives abroad and limiting access to scientific, sporting and cultural activities. The article also notes that sanctions compound Iran’s existing economic crisis and difficulties obtaining essentials, amid political repression and recent deadly unrest. Washington says its goal is to cut off the Iranian regime’s sources of support, while the article reports that the regime continues to find ways around sanctions. It also describes Turkey’s revocation of the operating licence of Bank Mellat, a heavily sanctioned Iranian lender. The supplied article excerpt ends mid-sentence while beginning to describe the bank’s alleged links.

The United Arab Emirates has pledged $10 million to support efforts to combat Ebola in Africa, with the contribution announced at an international meeting convened by the United States on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The funding will be provided through the UAE Aid Agency at the direction of President Sheikh Mohamed. UAE Aid Agency chairman Dr Tareq Al Ameri said the commitment reflected the country’s humanitarian mission and responsibility to protect communities from disease. He urged the international community to speed up its response and strengthen health systems’ ability to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks. The UAE has already sent more than 150 tonnes of aid to affected areas, including protective equipment, infection-control materials and food. The supplies have benefited about 280 health centres. The financial pledge comes as Ebola continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising concerns about the regional humanitarian and public-health impact. Separately, the UAE has lifted entry restrictions for Ugandan citizens that were introduced in June. The decision followed Uganda’s official declaration that its outbreak was over and the completion of the international monitoring period. It was announced by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. Precautionary entry measures remain for travellers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Authorities said measures could be adjusted according to changing risk assessments and public-health standards. The article notes that Ebola causes severe haemorrhagic fever and that Uganda has experienced several outbreaks over the past two decades.

The United Arab Emirates pledged up to $5 million over five years to support implementation of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which was adopted as the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened in Abu Dhabi. The UAE will contribute $1 million annually. Justice Minister Abdullah Al Nuaimi announced the pledge and urged other governments and international partners to contribute, emphasizing that the declaration should lead to measurable action rather than remain a statement of intent. The declaration contains 18 articles and 67 paragraphs, organised around prevention and resilience; justice and the rule of law; evolving and converging criminal threats; and innovation and co-operation. It is intended to guide international work on crime prevention and criminal justice through 2031. More than 110 countries and 5,100 participants attended the congress, including delegations led by more than 50 ministers. Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed described safe and just societies as a shared responsibility requiring dialogue and co-operation. A major focus of the congress was the growing role of technology in crime. Monica Juma, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, warned that artificial intelligence, digital currencies and other technologies are changing criminal activity and moving faster than governments’ responses. She called for agile international co-operation. UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed also highlighted the use of technology for fraud, trafficking, exploitation and organised crime, as well as technology-enabled violence against women and girls. She called for human-rights-based digital governance and stronger co-operation. Japanese Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita urged delegates to build on the legacy of the 2021 Kyoto congress. Al Nuaimi said new and transnational threats—including cyber crime, financial crime, human trafficking and terrorism—require stronger partnerships. He characterised the congress as a shift from reacting to crime toward anticipating and preventing it through evidence-based international collaboration.

In this property-advice column, Eva Real Estate senior investment manager Mario Volpi addresses two questions about service charges in Dubai. First, an apartment owner asks how to judge whether rising charges are fair. Volpi explains that higher fees are not automatically unreasonable: buildings with extensive amenities and services generally cost more to operate. Owners should review their owners’ association’s approved annual budget and compare their building with properties of similar age and specification, rather than relying only on nearby locations. He also advises including recurring service charges in the investment calculation because they affect ownership costs and may influence a property’s appeal to future buyers. The second question concerns a Dubai villa community where the developer continues to own and rent many units, while the community has not completed Rera/Mollak registration. Owners have received a second year of provisional service-charge invoices, despite concerns about limited financial visibility and poor maintenance, facilities and security. Volpi discusses Dubai Law No 6 of 2019, noting that Article 27 requires Rera approval before service charges are charged or collected and allows for a temporary budget pending a final audited budget. Article 30 requires payments to go into a Rera-recognised service-charge account for the jointly owned property. Volpi says owners should ask whether Rera has approved a temporary budget, when the registration application was submitted, and when full registration is expected. He acknowledges that sale and purchase agreements may require owners to contribute from completion and that community services must continue, but argues that contractual obligations do not necessarily displace the statutory rules. Owners should request an interim operating budget, an explanation of how provisional charges were calculated, and an account of actual expenditure once registration is complete. The supplied article text ends mid-sentence before Volpi’s answer is finished.

Radhouane Nouicer, the UN-designated expert on human rights in Sudan, has questioned the transparency and impartiality of a Sudanese committee investigating violations during the country’s war. According to Nouicer, the committee has documented tens of thousands of cases involving the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but only a few hundred involving the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). He said the apparent imbalance raises concerns about whether abuses by both sides are being investigated fairly. The conflict began in April 2023 after a power struggle between SAF leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and RSF leader Gen Mohamed Dagalo. It has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Both sides have been accused of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law; UN investigators have documented RSF abuses in Darfur that they say amount to war crimes. Nouicer also described concerns over arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearances. Some detainees, he said, face accusations only of having co-operated with the opposing side, while families in disappearance cases may not know where relatives are or whether they are alive. He further reported that aircraft and drone attacks had caused more than 1,000 deaths since the beginning of 2026, and said civilian buildings in Khartoum had suffered extensive damage, some without an apparent military or strategic justification. The article notes continuing international concern and failed efforts to end the war. It also reports allegations that the SAF used chemical weapons and concealed a stockpile, citing investigations by The New York Times and The Washington Post. A recent UN fact-finding report, meanwhile, said the SAF used foreign-supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians and reiterated that external actors had enabled arms transfers to the RSF.

The National’s live-news page, updated September 26, 2026, at 4:38 a.m., is headed by a report that a Saudi-led coalition intercepted Houthi drones said to be heading towards Riyadh. The supplied page text does not include the full report: it provides no details about how many drones were involved, where or when they were intercepted, or whether there was damage or casualties. The headline therefore establishes the central development, but the underlying account cannot be assessed from this excerpt alone. The page also lists other developments connected to the wider regional conflict and its diplomatic fallout. These include a Gulf Co-operation Council chief condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia; Saudi and Pakistani defence chiefs discussing attacks on Makkah; and a US ambassador saying Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Chinese assistance to Iran was unacceptable. Other listed headlines say Turkey’s parliament had yet to approve a defence agreement involving Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and that Iran’s president said the United States could choose to end the war. Video links and headlines on the page refer to an Indian sailor killed when torpedoes struck a ship off Oman, remarks by Iran’s president and US President Trump, a meeting involving Gulf states, and Yemenis fleeing to Djibouti. These are presented as related updates, not as fully reported sections in the supplied text. Overall, the page frames the drone interception as part of a broader escalation involving Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, Iran, and international diplomacy. Because the excerpt is largely site navigation and headlines rather than the live report itself, further factual detail should not be inferred.

The Internationals surged to a 7-3 lead over the United States at the Presidents Cup after winning all five foursomes matches in Illinois. The article highlights Australian Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee as key contributors to the sweep. Scott teamed with South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout to defeat Justin Thomas and Cameron Young 3 and 2. Lee and New Zealand debutant Ryan Fox edged major champions Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark 1 up, with Fox securing the win on the 18th hole. Lee’s driving was a notable feature of their match. Canada’s Corey Conners and Nick Taylor also delivered a pivotal 1-up win over world number one Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns. After Taylor’s wayward drive created pressure on the final hole, he hit a strong approach shot close to the pin, and Conners holed the putt to complete the victory. The other Internationals wins came from South Korean teammates Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim, who beat Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 4 and 3, and Sung-jae Im and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who defeated Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman 3 and 2. Together, these results gave the Internationals their second-ever sweep of the foursomes format. The lead follows a first day on which the United States won three of five four-ball matches, leaving the overall score tied at 3-3 before the sweep. Although the Internationals have built a substantial advantage, 20 points remain available in the 13th edition of the competition. The United States must earn 12.5 points from the remaining sessions to come back and win. Eight more team matches are scheduled for Saturday in Chicago, followed by 12 singles matches on the final day. The article frames the Internationals’ position as a surprise and a significant opportunity to win the Cup for the first time since 1998.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is retiring its Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter fleet this month, ending more than two decades of service. The 22 helicopters were acquired in 2001 and entered service in 2004. The 1st Aviation Regiment marked the retirement with a farewell flyover over Darwin’s Mindil Beach Markets. The regiment will move from Darwin to Townsville as it transitions to a new fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Captain Nicholas Bilton, who has flown Tigers for three years, described the experience as the fulfilment of a childhood ambition. He praised the aircraft’s manoeuvrability and said he would miss flying it, while also looking forward to what comes next. Lieutenant-Colonel Jason Perrins called the Tigers a longstanding part of the unit and acknowledged that their departure would be a sad moment, even as the regiment celebrates the people and service associated with them. The Tigers have taken part in international exercises, including activities supporting the United States and showcasing Australian defence capabilities to partners in Malaysia. The replacement Apaches are being acquired from the United States under a $4.5 billion deal. Six have already been delivered to Townsville, and all 29 are expected to arrive in Australia by the end of 2029. Perrins said both aircraft are capable platforms, but described the Apache as an improvement in areas including connectivity, data systems and sensors. The ADF says the change reflects Australia’s need to operate in an evolving threat environment. The article notes that the eventual destination of the retired Tigers is not yet known; the Albanese government considered sending them to Kyiv last year to support Ukraine’s war effort.

Cat bites and scratches can cause deep wounds and serious infections, potentially progressing to sepsis and death, a GP has warned. Rebecca Hoffman, a GP and chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ NSW/ACT faculty, says cats’ narrow teeth and sharp claws can penetrate deeply, while bacteria on their teeth and claws can enter the body through punctures and scratches. She advises washing wounds immediately with soap and cold water and seeking medical care whenever the skin is broken. People with weakened immune systems or diabetes may be more vulnerable, and outdoor or stray cats may carry additional risk. Fever and discoloured skin can indicate a worsening infection; anyone with such symptoms should attend an emergency department. The article recounts Nicky Stewart’s experience after her cat, Frankie, bit and scratched her hands when she rescued him from a stray dog. Stewart initially thought the injuries were minor, but her wrist quickly swelled and she became light-headed. She was admitted to hospital, required surgery to drain bacteria from the wounds and spent months with both hands bandaged. She still has scars, but says she continues to love her cat. Australian hospitalisation figures show the risk is not unusual: cat bites or strikes were the third-most common reason for hospitalisation due to contact with a person, plant or animal in 2024–25. Related admissions nearly tripled over a decade, from 1,219 in 2015–16 to 3,459 in 2024–25, exceeding hospitalisations from venomous snake bites. Accounts shared by readers describe lasting finger injuries and hospital treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Stewart says hospital staff told her they regularly treated similar injuries and recounted a case in which a person died after dismissing a cat scratch. Her experience left her surprised by the danger, and her scars remain a reminder to take bites and scratches seriously.

Australian children’s author Andy Griffiths has been honoured with Andy Andy, a four-metre-high, 3D-printed sculpture by artist Ronnie van Hout, now on display at Canberra’s National Portrait Gallery. The work depicts Griffiths perched in a tree among seemingly endless versions of himself, reflecting the unruly imagination he describes as his “inner kid.” Griffiths said he realised early in his career that he was unlikely to write serious adult fiction: whenever he picked up a pen, his childlike side led him towards funny, strange and unusual stories. Although Griffiths and van Hout had not met before the project, they share an affinity for punk music and absurdist humour. Van Hout said working on the sculpture prompted him to consider the shared imagery, histories and influences that shape a person. The sculpture’s disorderly energy, the article suggests, echoes the creative possibilities in Griffiths’ work. Displayed alongside Andy Andy is Brainstorm, another van Hout work made up of 130 objects, books and pieces of music from Griffiths’ writing room. It offers visitors a glimpse of the influences behind the author’s distinctive style. Griffiths described his writing as having a “kooky frequency” and said he hopes the exhibition will encourage children and adults to explore alternative music, art and ways of thinking. The exhibition’s unveiling came only days after the death of Terry Denton, Griffiths’ illustrator and creative collaborator for nearly 30 years, best known as the artist behind the Treehouse series. Griffiths recalled how Denton offered to illustrate anything he wrote, recognising an opportunity for both of them to explore their unconventional ideas. He said he misses Denton, but is glad his spirit will continue to live in the books and in children’s minds. Andy Andy and Brainstorm are scheduled to remain on display at the National Portrait Gallery until mid-2027.

A middle-aged man and woman were rescued from Tasmania’s Wineglass Bay area in the early hours of Saturday, September 26, after spending the night out during a walk. A rescue helicopter located the couple at about 2:40am and airlifted them to safety. Police described them as cold and tired; the article does not report any injuries or further medical details. Tasmania Police said search and rescue teams had been dispatched at about 11pm on Friday after a concerned relative reported that the pair had become uncontactable. The relative’s alarm prompted the overnight search, which ended when the helicopter found the couple several hours later. The article does not specify where exactly they were found, how long they had been walking, or what caused them to lose contact. Wineglass Bay, on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula, is described as a popular tourist destination. In response to the incident, police used the rescue as a timely reminder for people going bushwalking to take sufficient warm clothing and food, as well as emergency communication devices. The report focuses on the rescue and the practical safety advice, without suggesting that the couple acted improperly or providing further detail about the circumstances of their walk.

Seventy-five-year-old sailor Digby Campbell was rescued in Darwin Harbour after a voyage from Dili that became a month-long ordeal. Campbell had bought the trimaran Singapore Sling in Dili and expected to reach Darwin in six days. Two days after leaving in early July, rough seas off Timor-Leste damaged the boat: its outboard motor broke loose, a chain plate failed, and waves swept away his tablet and phone. With his navigation equipment and much of his food and other supplies gone, Campbell continued toward Darwin rather than returning to Dili, where he felt he could not go back after his difficult dealings with the harbourmaster and two backpackers who had been brought to the office. Australian authorities had been told to expect Campbell within days. During the much longer passage, Australian Border Force personnel provided supplies and radio equipment, and a Royal Australian Navy warship checked on him. By the time he reached Darwin waters, he was nearly out of provisions. He had been steering the yacht for a day and a half and had not eaten for three days when maritime officer Christopher Cridland, launch master Rawson McCrae and crew member Joshua Witkin spotted the boat and went to check on him. Sunburnt, dehydrated and disoriented, Campbell was helped ashore and taken to an ambulance. His rescuers said the boat was moving very slowly and could have taken another two days to reach the harbour. After recovering, Campbell met the three men for a beer and shared his story. The encounter also revealed an unexpected connection: McCrae had sailed on the decades-old trimaran as a child. Cridland, McCrae and Witkin received Distinguished Lifesaving Awards from the Australian Maritime Officers Union. The repaired and repainted Singapore Sling is being prepared for a voyage to New Zealand via Cairns, which Campbell hopes to begin when the wind is favourable.

Family and friends of 20-year-old NSW Police Constable Mia Lay gathered in Redfern to lay flowers at the site where she died in a police vehicle crash on Friday morning. Her father planted bright yellow flowers, while her partner, Daniel Vasquez, also a police officer, spoke on behalf of the family about her warmth, beauty and the loss of “the love of my life.” Lay’s mother, Tamara, wanted people to know that her daughter loved her work, was good at her job and was loved by the community. Lay had been a police officer for just 16 months. She was responding to reports of a stolen car in nearby Glebe, travelling as a passenger in a marked police vehicle along Gibbons Street when it struck a tree near the Regent Street intersection. She died at the scene. The 24-year-old driver suffered facial injuries and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, but has since been discharged. Redfern resident Tim Cochran also remembered Lay. He had called Triple Zero earlier in the year after finding an unresponsive man in a park. Cochran said Lay took control of the situation and helped the man respond, leaving him impressed by her confidence, competence and reassuring manner. Although he had only met her briefly, he said her death had affected him and imagined the loss was especially painful for those close to her. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Lay had shown “exceptional promise” and thanked her for her courage and service to the community. A critical incident investigation, assisted by the Crash Investigations Unit, is continuing to establish how the crash happened. Lanyon described it as a complex investigation and said police had assured the family that answers would be sought.

Jordan Yap, a 30-year-old Melbourne man, has been reported missing after setting out on a solo, multi-day hike in Peru’s remote Huayhuash region. His father, Vinh Dao, said Yap’s last message told his family he expected to be off grid for the hike’s 10 days. Yap left a hostel in Huaraz on September 14 and was expected to check into a hotel on September 23, then fly from Lima to Cusco the following day. When he failed to arrive at the hotel and missed his flight, his family became alarmed. Dao described his son as an experienced hiker, although the Peru trip was among his first solo journeys. The family contacted Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which confirmed it is providing consular assistance. They have also been trying to coordinate with local police in Peru but have not yet succeeded in getting a response. As they wait for local authorities, the family hired a private mountain rescue team. The team began assembling a search effort at about 3am Melbourne time and has completed its first day of searching. Dao said searchers reported a positive identification of Yap on the second day, after people came across him, but the article does not specify what was identified or where he was last seen. The rescue team plans to widen its search area over the coming days. Yap’s family is preparing to travel to Peru if needed, and Dao said they are extremely anxious about the possibility that his son is lost in the mountains.

Filming for Stan’s upcoming crime thriller Two Birds briefly turned Boulder’s heritage-listed courthouse into a fictional police station. For three days, the police signage appeared to calm activity on Burt Street, according to Ronnie and Stephen Maddocks, owners of the neighbouring Grand Hotel. Once locals realised the station was only a film set, the effect ended. The episode has strengthened calls for a permanent, 24-hour police presence in the town, and a petition has attracted 1,171 signatures. Boulder’s main street has historic pubs and shops but has also faced theft, verbal abuse and antisocial behaviour. Local business owners describe threats and assaults, and say the problems have discouraged visitors. Newsagency owner Mike Saville believes visible foot patrols, even for limited periods each day, could help restore confidence. The Maddocks say police vehicles and occasional patrols have made the street quieter, while acknowledging that a police post would not solve every problem. WA Police say officers respond to calls across Kalgoorlie-Boulder around the clock and regularly patrol Boulder from Kalgoorlie Police Station, about five kilometres away. They cite Operation Regional Shield, extended to the Goldfields in 2024, and say staffing and resources are assessed according to demand and community safety. Police data shows 1,742 offences were recorded in Boulder in 2025, up from 1,515 in 2024; 1,141 offences had already been recorded in the first six months of the following year. The campaign is backed by former local police officer and former WA Nationals MP Dave Grills, who argues that face-to-face police presence is necessary. The petition was tabled in WA Parliament on September 10 by Liberal MP Neil Thomson, who said retailers had raised concerns about theft, drug use, worker safety and fear of assault.

George Russell won a dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, holding off Max Verstappen after a late loss of power to claim his third victory of the season. Russell led from start to finish for the first time in his Formula 1 career. A yellow flag caused by Valtteri Bottas’s crash prompted Russell to lift off; when he accelerated again, he said his turbo and power were gone. Verstappen closed rapidly but could not pass him. The live coverage puts the final margin at 0.196 seconds, while the article’s opening describes it as 0.1 seconds. Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s teammate and championship rival, recovered from a 16th-place start to finish fifth, tightening the title contest slightly. Oscar Piastri had started third and briefly challenged near the front, but locked both front wheels while defending from Isack Hadjar on lap 40 and spun into the runoff area. He recovered to finish 14th, ending a race in which he had been in contention for a podium. Piastri said the lock-up took him by surprise and described the result as disappointing. McLaren teammate Lando Norris was eliminated earlier, on lap 36, after Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly collided at Turn One during a restart. Colapinto received a 10-second penalty for causing the crash. The opening phase was relatively uneventful, with Russell building a lead and the field appearing settled. The safety-car periods then reshaped the race: Alex Albon’s crash brought out the first, while the chaotic restart led to the Alpine collision and Norris’s retirement. Verstappen had moved into second before Piastri’s spin at the later restart. The report also notes that Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar both finished on the podium, and that the close finish was the nearest Grand Prix result since 2002 according to the live updates. Overall, the article recounts a race whose late incidents transformed an initially quiet contest into a dramatic finish, while highlighting a difficult day for the Australian drivers and McLaren.

A 40-year-old man is in a critical, life-threatening condition after a house fire in Marion, in Adelaide’s south-western suburbs. Emergency services were called to a home on George Street at about 6:30am on Saturday, September 26, after reports of a fire. The man suffered serious burns and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a life-threatening condition. Metropolitan Fire Service crews attended and extinguished the blaze, which was contained to the home’s bathroom. Fire cause investigators have examined the scene, and inquiries into how the fire started are continuing. Police say they do not believe the circumstances are suspicious. They have nevertheless asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers. The report does not provide further details about the man, the property, or what may have caused the fire. It focuses on his condition, the emergency response, the area affected inside the home, and the ongoing investigation.

A Queensland Family and Child Commission report recorded 452 child deaths in the state during the 2025–26 financial year. Of these, preliminary figures show 91 children were known to the child protection system—up 59.6 per cent from 57 the previous year and the highest number in five years. The report also recorded 312 deaths from natural causes and 94 from external causes, including transport incidents and unintentional injuries. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child deaths rose to 102, from 88 the year before. The commission recommended improving coronial data collection. Its child death prevention team said recording the school a child attended could help identify systemic issues and patterns, but the recommendation was still under consideration by the State Coroner at the end of the reporting period. The report also highlighted risks associated with quad bikes in rural communities and a concerning pattern of severe nutritional deficiencies among children on highly restricted diets. In some cases, children’s diets consisted almost exclusively of cow’s milk. The findings were referred to the State Coroner and Queensland Health, which are undertaking further work. The ABC had previously reported that excessive cow’s milk consumption contributed to the deaths of three Queensland toddlers over two years. A government spokesperson said every child’s death was devastating and stressed early identification of health, disability and mental health risks. Opposition Leader Steven Miles said the child protection system was in crisis, citing more children in residential care and more deaths among children known to child safety. The Child Death Review Board is due to report to government by October 31, 2026. The article also notes that a June inquiry into child safety made 52 recommendations addressing serious failures; the government accepted 32 and accepted 16 in principle, including measures relating to the feasibility of simple adoption and making adoption an option regardless of cultural background.

Perth’s long-running writers’ festival has not returned as promised after announcing in 2024 that it would pause for a refreshed event in early 2026. A new Perth Festival writers’ initiative was later proposed to highlight writers from around the Indian Ocean and Western Australia, but it remains unscheduled. That leaves Perth as the only Australian state capital without a major writers’ festival. The article traces the event’s history from literary programming within the Perth Festival, founded by the University of Western Australia in 1953, to the standalone Perth Writers Week and, after COVID-related reductions, the 2024 Perth Writers Weekend. That final event faced controversy over the invitation of Deborah Conway, whose comments about children in Gaza had drawn criticism. Organisers kept her on the program, increased security, established protest areas, added Palestinian-heritage writers and issued a statement opposing censorship, bigotry and discrimination. Writing WA chair Per Henningsgaard suggests recent controversies in literary programming may make a new festival daunting to organise. The article also describes longer-running tensions around arts funding and sponsorship, including Perth Festival’s ties to mining companies. Former literature curator Sisonke Msimang says artists have challenged such partnerships as greenwashing and argues the Gaza conflict has made it harder for festival directors to avoid political questions. While the major festival is absent, smaller community events have grown, including festivals in Joondalup, Fremantle, Mandurah, Kalamunda and Margaret River. The Margaret River Writers and Readers Festival has expanded with ongoing Tourism WA support and by coordinating dates with Sydney and Melbourne festivals to share the cost of bringing international authors to Australia. It has also begun presenting one-off literary events in Perth with the State Library. The article presents these events as a growing literary scene, while leaving open whether they can replace the scale and profile of a major Perth festival.

The Sydney Roosters advanced to their third consecutive NRLW grand final with a 20-10 preliminary-final win over the Canberra Raiders at Sydney Football Stadium. The victory extends the Roosters’ perfect season: they won all 11 of their regular-season matches and have now secured a place in the October 4 decider. They will face either the Gold Coast Titans or Brisbane Broncos, who are due to meet the following day. The Roosters are seeking to avenge their loss to Brisbane in the 2025 grand final and add another premiership to their 2021 and 2024 titles. The Roosters established control early. Winger Jayme Fressard, returning after missing three matches with a hand injury, scored in the corner after a pass from captain Isabelle Kelly. A penalty against Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher for pulling Kelly’s hair led to prop Rima Butler’s try, and Jocelyn Kelleher’s conversion made it 10-0. Canberra replied just before half-time when Krystal Blackwell, who had briefly left the field to deal with a bloody nose, ran through a gap created by Zahara Temara. In the second half, the Roosters continued to threaten. Brydie Parker prevented Lili Boyle from scoring, then Kelleher’s swirling kick created an opportunity for Jessica Sergis, who scored her 17th try of the season to extend the lead to 16-4. Sergis also stopped a Raiders attack with a one-on-one steal. Canberra fought back when Chante Temara’s short pass enabled England international Hollie-Mae Dodd to score, reducing the margin to six points with eight minutes remaining. Tarryn Aiken, who missed last year’s grand final after an ACL tear, then scored a late try to seal the Roosters’ win and their return to the premiership decider.

Tasmania’s expanding professional sports industry is creating new career opportunities and a reason for people interested in sport to study and work in the state. The Tasmanian Academy of Leadership and Sport, a partnership involving TasTAFE, the Tasmania Football Club, the JackJumpers, the Hobart Hurricanes and Netball Tasmania, provides a local training pathway that did not previously exist. Its 12-month dual diploma in leadership, management and sport is offered in Hobart and Launceston, with graduates also receiving 18 months of credit towards a University of Tasmania business degree. Tom Reeves, a North Hobart Football Club co-captain, had previously left Tasmania to play state league football and study on the Gold Coast. After returning home, he enrolled at the academy and went on to work there, first in community engagement and later as a teacher. He says being able to build a career near his family and friends has been rewarding. Academy education and engagement lead Jesse O’Hara returned to Tasmania after the 2023 announcement that the state had secured the AFL’s 19th licence. He helped establish the academy, seeing a need to train the workforce for the growing sports sector. The academy serves more than prospective players: clubs such as the Tasmania Devils employ over 100 non-playing staff, and the new pathways may help both returning Tasmanians and students who would otherwise leave to study elsewhere. The article links the academy’s growth to recent developments in Tasmanian sport: the JackJumpers joined the NBL in 2021, the Tasmanian Jewels entered the WNBL, and the Tasmania Devils are due to join the AFL in 2028. The Devils’ VFL team has also reached the season’s finals. Sport-management academic Lisa Gowthorp says interest in the field and available jobs are increasing, with further growth expected ahead of Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics. She notes that specialist training prepares students for the distinctive demands of sport, including event and venue operations and team communication. The article presents the academy as a practical response to an industry on a positive trajectory, helping Tasmanians pursue sports careers without having to leave home.

Two 16-year-old boys have been arrested after a 41-year-old man was allegedly stabbed while confronting a group of boys breaking into a car in Langwarrin, in Melbourne’s south-east. Police say the incident happened outside the man’s home in Govan Street at about 12:20am. He was critically injured and is fighting for his life in hospital. Ambulance Victoria said Mobile Intensive Care and Advanced Life Support paramedics attended and took him to the Alfred Hospital with wounds to his upper body. The group fled before police arrived. The two teenagers were arrested at about 4am and have not yet been questioned about the stabbing. Police are continuing to search for a third teenager. One of the boys was reportedly identified after being seen on a neighbour’s CCTV. A Langwarrin resident said footage showed the boy in his backyard before he left through a front gate. Neighbours described the area as family-friendly and close-knit, and said the incident had left residents shocked. One resident said children normally play in the street and neighbours socialise together; another recalled seeing several police cars and ambulances. Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident, has relevant footage or has other information to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria.

Kylie Minogue headlined the AFL Grand Final pre-game entertainment at Melbourne Cricket Ground, performing a fast-paced 20-minute set for more than 100,000 spectators and viewers at home. The show celebrated her long career and hometown connection, opening with a video montage of young Kylie and footage of the competing teams. Her setlist ranged from early hits such as “The Loco-Motion” and “Confide in Me” to newer songs including “Padam Padam,” with appearances by Kalkadunga musician William Barton and Australian performer G Flip. Dom Dolla’s remix featured in “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” The performance moved between energetic pop spectacle and a more dramatic moment: Barton joined Minogue for “Confide in Me,” accompanied by orchestral strings and pyrotechnics. G Flip joined her for a rock version of “Padam Padam.” A staged fake ending led into a crowd singalong to “The Loco-Motion,” before Minogue flew above the stadium in a sparkling footy-shaped set piece to close with “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” The article also describes her succession of costumes, including tasselled outfits, gold details, a floor-length jacket and a silver-white gown. G Flip opened the entertainment with a three-instrument performance, while retired players completed their lap of honour and Mike Brady performed the football anthem “Up There Cazaly.” The show included possible references to Minogue’s past work, a near snag with her safety harness after the flight, and a cameo from comedy duo The Inspired Unemployed during “The Loco-Motion.” The article presents the event as a lively, affectionate celebration of Minogue’s music and showmanship, noting that the audience seemed ready for even more.

The article reports that US federal judges say threats to their safety and independence have intensified during Donald Trump’s second presidency. More than 850 lawsuits have reportedly challenged the administration’s policies, and judges involved in politically charged cases describe a more dangerous working environment. A Brennan Center for Justice report, based on interviews with 35 current and former judges appointed by presidents from both parties, found that every interviewee considered the danger more serious than in the past. Nearly all 17 sitting judges interviewed were concerned about their families’ safety. Federal security data also show a 57 per cent increase in significant security incidents in fiscal year 2025, with another rise forecast for 2026, and a separate measure of threats increased by 10 per cent. Judges recounted receiving hundreds of threatening calls, having family members targeted, and taking extensive precautions at home. Some paid for extra protection or curtailed ordinary activities. The article describes “pizza doxxing,” in which unsolicited food deliveries signal that a judge’s address is known; some deliveries invoke the name of Daniel Anderl, who was killed in an attack targeting his mother, Judge Esther Salas. The judges identified three main contributors: a heated political climate, high-profile litigation, and personal attacks by politicians and commentators. Cases arising from the January 6 Capitol attack and challenges to Trump administration policies have attracted intense attention. Judges also cited hostile rhetoric, including accusations of bias and calls for impeachment, as potentially encouraging threats. The article notes that political attacks on judges have occurred across parties, while interviewees said the climate has worsened since Trump returned to office. Finally, social media and data brokers make personal information easier to obtain and allow criticism to escalate into threats. The provided article ends mid-sentence while describing online responses to an attack on a judge’s ruling.

The article follows Syrian Kurdish families returning to Afrin after being displaced by Turkey’s 2018 military offensive. Dilshad Hamdo fled as a young man and spent years moving between Aleppo, Raqqa and a displacement camp in Qamishli. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, Syria’s transitional government began organizing returns. Hamdo’s family eventually reclaimed their home through a negotiated arrangement with a displaced family from Homs who had been living there. The Hamdos paid the family $300 to cover travel expenses back to Homs, and Hamdo says he sees Arabs and Kurds as one people who want peace and safety. The transitional government presents the returns as part of an effort to rebuild trust and end displacement. Afrin regional director Khayro Dawood says outreach to Kurdish communities in the northeast helped encourage families to return. A program that began with 400 families has expanded to about 12,000 families returning in state-organized convoys. Dawood also cites Decree 13, which recognizes the cultural and political rights of Syria’s Kurdish community, as evidence of a new relationship between Arabs and Kurds. But returning does not guarantee a home that is livable. Zeina Sido found her house looted, destroyed and being used as a shelter for sheep. Unable to afford repairs, she is living in a displacement camp, despite having returned to her region. Her experience highlights how renewed displacement and damaged property continue to undermine the promise of return. Still, Sido hopes to rebuild her family’s life on their land and says that hope helped bring them back.

The article reports that an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to new areas, raising concern about possible cross-border transmission. It says ten neighbouring countries are considered at high risk, although it does not name them or provide further information about the level or basis of that risk. In response, officials are stepping up health measures at borders. The report does not specify which locations within the DRC have been affected, how many people are ill or have died, or what particular border measures are being introduced. It also gives no details about the outbreak’s cause, timeline, or the agencies coordinating the response. The central point is therefore a brief warning about the outbreak’s geographic spread and the potential threat to neighbouring countries, alongside mention of increased border health precautions. The supplied article is a short news video item, so its text offers limited detail beyond those points; it does not provide enough information to assess the outbreak’s scale or the effectiveness of the measures.

Mohamed Salah will miss Egypt’s second Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifier against South Sudan on September 29 because the match will be played on an artificial-turf pitch at Juba Stadium. The Egyptian Football Association said the decision was made by the national team’s technical staff, led by coach Hossam Hassan, in agreement with Salah before Egypt’s opening qualifier. The stated aim was to rest and protect the player because of concerns about the playing surface. Artificial turf is described as carrying a higher injury risk than natural grass. Salah played in Egypt’s opening match against Angola at Cairo International Stadium, which ended in a goalless draw. He was substituted midway through the second half. The article identifies Salah as a two-time African Footballer of the Year and notes that he joined Turkish club Trabzonspor from Liverpool last month. He has scored 68 goals for Egypt, one fewer than Hassan’s record of 69 for the national team, known as the Pharaohs. Egypt, a record seven-time AFCON champion, is in Group B of the qualifiers alongside Angola, South Sudan and Malawi. The 2027 tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and will feature 24 teams. Despite Egypt’s success in the competition, the team has not won the championship since 2010.

Tyson Fury says his scheduled December 11 fight with fellow British former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua may be in jeopardy. In a social media video posted late Friday, Fury claimed that Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, were trying to withdraw from the bout and had said they would not fight. The article reports no response from Joshua or Hearn and does not independently confirm that the event has been cancelled. The matchup was announced on Thursday by promoter Turki Alalshikh and Netflix. It is planned as an all-British contest for the WBA “Super” heavyweight championship at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with Netflix set to broadcast it. The fight had previously been linked to venues in New York and London before Cardiff was selected. The stadium holds 80,000 people and has hosted major sporting events, including the Champions League and FA Cup finals, as well as Wales football and rugby matches. The article describes the long-awaited matchup as one of the biggest in British boxing history and says the confirmed venue allows both fighters to begin preparations. Fury, 37, most recently defeated 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand in July. Joshua, 36, last fought two months before the article was published, overcoming two first-round knockdowns to beat Kristian Prenga, described as unheralded. The report presents Fury’s claim as an uncertainty surrounding a highly anticipated fight, rather than as confirmation that the bout is off.

The Al Jazeera report focuses on 8-year-old Layan Asaliya, who was disabled in an Israeli strike in Gaza. It says that children injured in Israeli attacks—including children with disabilities and amputations—are unable to obtain replacement wheelchairs because Israel is refusing to allow wheelchairs into Gaza. Layan appeals to Israeli authorities to permit their entry. The report highlights the practical consequences of restricted access to mobility equipment for children who have already been injured: without wheelchairs, they cannot replace essential equipment they need to move around. Its framing centers on a child directly affected by the conflict and uses her request to draw attention to the needs of injured children in Gaza. The supplied text does not provide further details about the strike that injured Layan, the number of children affected, the duration or scope of the restriction, or any response from Israeli authorities. It is a short video-news item published on September 26, 2026, rather than a detailed account of the broader access situation.

Israel’s Central Elections Committee has voted to disqualify the two main Arab-majority political lists—the Joint List and Ra’am—as well as Hadash politician Ofer Cassif and Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh from the October 27 parliamentary election. The decisions are not final: Israel’s Supreme Court is expected to review them, and has reversed similar disqualifications in the past. Palestinian citizens make up about one-fifth of Israel’s population, and the barred lists are among their principal political representatives in the Knesset. The petitions, brought by Likud and Otzma Yehudit, alleged that the parties or candidates denied Israel’s character as a Jewish and democratic state, supported armed struggle, or incited racism. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed barring the two lists and Cassif, saying the evidence did not meet the legal standard, but took a different position on Abu Shehadeh. His case includes an article describing Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack as an important historic event. Abu Shehadeh says he opposes armed struggle and supports peaceful political and civil struggle. Adalah, which represents the lists and candidates, disputes the petitions and plans to challenge the decisions in court. The committee rejected petitions to disqualify the far-right Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism parties, led by ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Critics say this contrast reflects a double standard, particularly given the ministers’ statements about Palestinians and the international sanctions they face. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also remains eligible to run despite an ICC arrest warrant concerning alleged crimes in Gaza and an ongoing corruption trial; he denies the allegations. The article places the current votes in a longer history of challenges to Arab candidates, while cautioning that past Supreme Court reversals do not predict the outcome this time.

Al Jazeera reports that defence chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan met in Riyadh to discuss support for Saudi Arabia under the newly established Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The meeting took place amid reports from Saudi Arabia of additional attacks launched from Yemen. The headline frames the meeting in the context of Houthi attacks, although the brief article text does not provide further details about the attacks or specify their targets, timing, or consequences. The report presents the meeting as a discussion of defence cooperation and support for Saudi Arabia. It does not identify the officials who attended, describe any decisions or commitments made, or explain how the agreement would be implemented. Nor does the supplied text offer responses from the parties involved or additional background on the agreement. The article is dated 26 September 2026. Overall, this is a brief news update about regional security and cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan. Its central point is that the three countries’ defence chiefs met in Riyadh as Saudi Arabia reported further attacks originating from Yemen. The available information establishes the context and stated purpose of the meeting, but leaves its outcomes and the details of the reported attacks unspecified.

Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the largest number of seats in the country’s parliamentary election, taking 97 of the 395 seats in the lower house, according to final results announced by the Interior Ministry. Because the party fell short of the 198 seats needed for a majority, it must negotiate with other parties to form a governing coalition. Morocco’s constitution requires King Mohammed VI to appoint a prime minister from the party that wins the most seats. PAM, founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, is aligned with the monarchy and has been a political counterweight to the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD). The PJD, which led the government for a decade before losing most of its parliamentary representation in 2021, rebounded to 54 seats. It says it will remain in opposition, and its rivalry with PAM makes a coalition between them unlikely. PAM is therefore expected to seek support from the monarchist Istiqlal party and other groups. The National Rally of Independents, PAM’s senior coalition partner, fell from 102 seats to 66. Turnout was 38 percent of Morocco’s 15.8 million registered voters, down sharply from about 51 percent in 2021 and the second-lowest rate since Mohammed VI took the throne in 1999. Analysts linked the low participation to public disengagement after youth-led protests over jobs, healthcare and education, as well as deadly attempts by migrants to reach Spain’s enclave of Ceuta. Possible candidates for prime minister include PAM figures Fouzi Lekjaa and Fatima Ezzahra Mansouri. Mansouri, who is Marrakesh’s mayor and a government minister, would be Morocco’s first woman prime minister if selected. The new government will oversee billions of dollars in investment as Morocco prepares to cohost the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

At least 14 people were killed on Friday when a Congolese army plane crashed in Kenge, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s southwestern Kwango province. The aircraft was travelling from Kikwit to the capital, Kinshasa, when it developed a technical fault and attempted to land. According to Kwango Deputy Governor Remy Saki Bokinda, Kenge had no landing strip, and the plane crashed into a residential plot. The crash killed everyone aboard, including senior military officials, civilians and members of an official delegation travelling with two generals. Military spokesperson Major-General Efomi Ekenge said 12 bodies were burned beyond recognition and the pilot’s body was found outside the aircraft. Bokinda also said most of the bodies were badly burned. An investigation has been opened to establish what caused the accident. The report places the crash in the context of the DRC’s wider instability: the mineral-rich country has endured decades of conflict, especially in its east near the Rwandan border, where armed groups compete for control of valuable mining areas. Congolese forces have also been fighting rebel groups that have captured key cities since the previous year.

The article reports that organisers of protests supporting former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan have postponed their planned rallies. The delay comes as the Pakistani government closes or blocks parts of the capital, Islamabad, and places shipping containers in the streets to prevent demonstrations. The protests are calling for Khan’s release from prison. The report describes the postponement as a test of the government’s resolve to keep the capital blockaded, suggesting that the organisers’ decision is connected to the authorities’ restrictions on movement and assembly. However, the brief article provides no further details about the rally’s original date, a new schedule, the number of participants expected, the specific closures, or statements from government officials or protest organisers. It also does not explain how long the blockades are expected to remain in place or whether other protest activity is continuing. The central development is therefore a delay, rather than a cancellation, of pro-Khan rallies amid government measures aimed at preventing protests in Islamabad. The article’s focus is the standoff between protest organisers seeking Khan’s release and a government using closures and street barriers to restrict demonstrations. It presents these events in a concise, factual manner without offering additional background or explicitly assessing either side’s position.

The article is a short Al Jazeera video item built around a question: whether diplomacy can work while bombs are still falling. Its description contrasts leaders gathering at the United Nations to discuss peace with the continuation of wars, and presents that contrast as the central issue for the segment. Al Jazeera’s Emma Withrow asks Al Anoud Al Thani, identified as a nonresident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, what diplomacy can achieve under those conditions. The available text establishes the segment’s subject and interview participants, but it does not provide Al Thani’s answer, examples from the interview, or further details about which wars or diplomatic efforts are discussed. It therefore frames a question about diplomacy’s potential amid ongoing violence rather than supplying enough information to assess particular negotiations or outcomes. The headline reinforces the tension between peace talks and continuing air attacks, while the description indicates that the video explores the role or limits of diplomatic engagement in that setting. The item is dated September 26, 2026. This summary is limited to the supplied headline and description; the underlying video content is not included in the provided text.

In this opinion article, Nawaf Obaid argues that Russian satellite and signals intelligence, integrated by Iran into Houthi command-and-control, helped the Houthis exploit weaknesses in Tariq Saleh’s National Resistance Forces and contribute to the collapse of Yemen’s western front. He describes how geospatial intelligence and signals intelligence, collected and sequenced over time, could reveal force deployments, communications, command relationships, and operational vulnerabilities. Human access to the National Resistance Forces allegedly helped turn that intelligence into practical battlefield advantage. The article recounts specific failures around Mokha and Jabal al-Nar: unreliable orders and reports, uncertainty about friendly-force positions, casualties after a strike, and brigades discovering that many registered personnel had not reported. These problems restricted Saudi-led air operations and contributed to forces leaving positions. Obaid says the campaign’s response includes embedding joint terminal attack controller teams, using liaison teams to verify Yemeni formations, and strengthening command authentication, reporting, and encrypted communications. The author compares this response with Saudi counterintelligence efforts against the Southern Transitional Council in January 2026. He then argues that the Houthi network is more sophisticated but depends on vulnerable communications, specialist staff, intelligence-fusion nodes, advisers, and links between Sanaa and battlefield headquarters. He reports heavy senior Houthi losses following strikes on September 19 and says the disruption of command nodes is weakening the chain from intelligence collection to battlefield execution. The article concludes that the Houthis are struggling to repeat their West Coast advance as their command network is exposed and Saudi-led forces address the vulnerabilities revealed by the earlier collapse. The supplied article text ends mid-sentence.

The article describes an episode of Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post examining how media coverage shapes political perceptions in Brazil, the United States and Spain. Its main segment looks ahead to Brazil’s national elections, where Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, is presenting himself as a more moderate candidate. Coverage has also been dominated by what the programme describes as the country’s largest banking fraud case. The episode considers how repeated corruption scandals can encourage a public narrative that politicians are all equally corrupt, and features commentary from journalists and academics Andrew Fishman, David Nemer, Andre Pagliarini and Natalia Portinari. A second segment examines Donald Trump’s decision to bar three news outlets from the White House. According to the article, journalists responded with a media boycott and a judge overturned the ban, making the administration’s effort appear to have backfired. Tariq Nafi reports on the dispute between the US president and the media. The programme also investigates Nucleo Nacional, a fringe neo-Nazi movement in Spain that has built an online following through provocative, polished content. The article argues that mainstream media attention can make a marginal group seem more powerful and influential than it is. Reporter Elettra Scrivo travels to Madrid to meet members and examine the organisation beyond its public spectacle. The segment includes author Miquel Ramos and digital researcher Urszula Mrozowska. Across its stories, the episode focuses on the relationship between media attention, political narratives and the perceived influence of political actors and extremist groups.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the United Nations Security Council’s five permanent members to give up their veto power, arguing that the council’s structure is outdated and allows a small number of countries to block the international community’s wishes. The proposal comes amid Security Council deadlock over issues including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The United States has vetoed multiple resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including calls for a Gaza ceasefire, while Russia has blocked resolutions concerning its war in Ukraine. The article explains that abolishing the veto would require amending the UN Charter. Such an amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratified by two-thirds of UN members, including every permanent member—meaning the five states would have to approve surrendering their own power. Russia has defended the veto, and the United States and China have also defended their privileges, making full abolition unlikely. A more limited France-Mexico initiative asks permanent members to voluntarily refrain from using the veto in cases involving mass atrocities. It has attracted support from 128 UN member states, but any General Assembly resolution backing it would be non-binding. Analysts say its voluntary nature and lack of support from frequent veto users limit its practical impact. The article notes that expanding the Security Council may be more feasible than eliminating the veto, with several permanent members expressing support for adding seats, including for African countries. But expansion would also require a Charter amendment and agreement on which states would receive seats and whether they would have veto powers. Historical figures underline the concentration of veto use: Russia and the former Soviet Union account for 163 of 331 recorded vetoes, while the United States has cast 95. France and the UK have used the veto far less often and have not done so since 1989.

Africa’s campaign for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council has returned to the agenda at the 81st UN General Assembly, with leaders including Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and Ghana’s President John Mahama calling for reform. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also renewed his appeal for a Council that better reflects current geopolitical realities. Africa’s case is reinforced by the Council’s extensive work on the continent: 18 of the 24 Chapter VII resolutions adopted in 2025 concerned Africa, yet no African country holds a permanent seat. The article explains why longstanding calls have not produced an agreement. Negotiations launched in 2008 have failed to resolve core issues, including the Council’s size, membership categories, regional representation and veto powers. Any change to permanent membership requires a UN Charter amendment approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratified by two-thirds of UN members, including all five current permanent members. This gives those members a formal role in approving changes to a system that benefits them. There is also no agreement on which African countries would occupy new seats. Nigeria has renewed its bid, while Egypt and South Africa have also sought permanent representation. The African Union’s common position calls for at least two permanent and five non-permanent African seats, but leaves the selection of representatives to the AU. The AU’s Ezulwini Consensus further demands that new permanent members receive the same rights as existing ones, including veto power for as long as the veto exists. Interviewees argue that the absence of African permanent members limits the continent’s influence over decisions affecting it, including peacekeeping mandates and the drafting of resolutions. The article concludes that questions of seat numbers, country selection, veto rights and the existing powers’ willingness to agree remain unresolved, making reform difficult.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Ohio and Tennessee may regulate Kalshi’s prediction-market event contracts under state gambling laws. The decision rejects Kalshi’s attempt to avoid state oversight and adds to a growing disagreement among federal appeals courts over whether prediction markets fall under state gambling rules or federal regulation. The 9th Circuit previously found Kalshi’s contracts subject to Nevada’s gambling laws, while the 3rd Circuit reached the opposite conclusion for New Jersey. This conflict could eventually lead the US Supreme Court to consider the issue. Prediction markets let users bet on outcomes ranging from sports and presidential elections to cultural events and possible agreements between the United States and Iran concerning Iran’s nuclear programme. Their rapid growth has prompted ethical and regulatory concerns, including concerns about the effects of betting apps on young people. The article also reports that New York sued the prediction-market company Polymarket, alleging that it operates an unlicensed gambling business. Polymarket said it would “fight for its users.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul argued that the company had knowingly violated state law and put residents at risk, particularly underage people who may be vulnerable to problem gambling. Together, the court ruling and New York lawsuit illustrate the intensifying legal and political debate over who has authority to regulate prediction markets.

A new study from Adelaide University suggests that exercise can reduce pain across a wide range of conditions, with effects that may compare favorably with relief reported for common pain medicines. Researchers analyzed 157 systematic reviews covering 2,736 randomized controlled trials and more than 220,000 participants. On average, exercise reduced pain by about 1.1 points on a 0-to-10 scale—roughly 60% more than the average relief reported in separate trials of common medications for chronic pain. The study also found that more exercise was not necessarily more effective. Low-intensity activity and programs lasting around 12 weeks were associated with greater pain reductions than more vigorous activity or longer programs. Programs involving less than 120 minutes of exercise per week appeared more effective than those requiring more time, which may be difficult for people living with chronic pain to sustain. Potential explanations include the release of endorphins and serotonin, reduced inflammation, changes in how the brain processes pain, and improvements in mood. Researchers say exercise is still underused in pain care. Patients may be advised simply to “stay active” rather than receive a specific, evidence-based plan detailing the type, intensity, and duration of exercise. The authors argue that healthcare providers need clearer guidance about which activities are appropriate for different patients and how to prescribe them. The article emphasizes that exercise is not a universal cure and should not be expected to eliminate pain. Its effects may vary according to the cause of pain, a person’s fitness level, and how consistently they follow a program. The findings support considering tailored exercise as part of pain management, rather than assuming that harder or longer workouts are needed.

Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day honours soldiers killed in the 44-day war of 2020, while the article presents the period since the ceasefire as a shift from post-war recovery toward peace and regional integration with Armenia. It describes the conflict’s end as a turning point that has led to a political framework for border delimitation, reconciliation, economic expansion and new transport links. The article highlights growing trade enabled by Azerbaijan’s lifting of transit restrictions in late 2025. From January to August 2026, direct Azerbaijani exports to Armenia exceeded $17 million, including diesel and petrol. Freight moving across Azerbaijani territory also includes agricultural goods, fertiliser, propane and industrial materials. A digital transit agreement between AzerTelecom and Telecom Armenia routes some Armenian internet traffic through Azerbaijan and allows Azerbaijani data traffic to reach Nakhchivan through Armenia’s network. Further integration remains conditional on a comprehensive peace agreement. Armenia’s 2026–2031 state programme envisages commercial ties and reopened regional transport links, while railway construction in the Ordubad direction is underway. The article traces the diplomatic framework to an August 2025 Washington summit hosted by US President Donald Trump, where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration related to a comprehensive peace agreement. It also points to confidence-building beyond government diplomacy: mutual support for international climate-related roles, civil-society discussions through the Peace Bridge format, and work on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity through Armenia’s Syunik region. The article closes with Pashinyan’s September 2026 Hessian Peace Prize award and his statement that Aliyev also deserved recognition for contributing to peace. Overall, it portrays remembrance alongside cautious optimism about reconciliation, trade and connectivity in the South Caucasus.

Baku hosted a packed week combining the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Baku Security Forum and the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF), which opened on 25 September at the Baku Convention Centre. The events brought visitors and participants from around the world and showcased Azerbaijan’s ambitions to attract investment, strengthen regional connectivity and diversify its economy. The investment forum focused on global investment structures and the South Caucasus’s role as a connector between markets. Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov emphasized reliable partnerships, resilient supply chains and reinvestment, including in renewable energy. Deals and agreements announced at the forum covered construction, digital development, solar and wind projects, pharmaceuticals, veterinary vaccines, poultry production, an Azerbaijan-Oman investment fund and water-meter manufacturing. These initiatives build on the 2025 forum, which generated more than $10 billion in investment agreements, most directed to non-oil sectors. Speakers also highlighted the Middle Corridor’s potential as an alternative route for trade and energy between Asia and Europe. Uzbekistan reported growing trade and shipments through Azerbaijan and plans for a joint logistics venture, while representatives from Montenegro discussed investment and energy links. Technology investor Kai-Fu Lee said his company intends to establish operations in Azerbaijan and train AI professionals. Economists and investors cited the country’s energy resources, governance, policies and regional outlook as reasons for optimism. The article also presents the Grand Prix as a major draw for tourism and hospitality, noting Azerbaijan’s tenth year hosting Formula 1 and a Thursday-to-Saturday race schedule adjusted for Remembrance Day. Participants described the race as a way to project Baku’s image as a modern, active city and to attract investment in sectors such as transport, renewable energy and digital innovation. The provided article ends mid-sentence while discussing the effect of the compressed race schedule on the city’s service infrastructure.

The article describes how two recent developments have worsened relations between Hungary and Ukraine: a dispute over Hungary’s participation in Ukraine’s Carpathian Eight (C8) summit and the revelation of an oil-storage memorandum between Hungary’s MOL and Ukraine’s Naftogaz. The diplomatic row erupted after Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Hungary had been included in the initiative without its consent. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Magyar of continuing the obstructionist policies of former prime minister Viktor Orbán; Magyar rejected the comparison and said international cooperation requires a country’s prior agreement. The dispute reflects conflicting accounts of Hungary’s role at the summit in Bukovel. Kyiv viewed Hungary as a participant because a Hungarian chargé d’affaires attended, although Magyar did not and Hungary’s representative did not sign the closing statement. Hungarian officials say Budapest had already made clear that Magyar would not attend and that the diplomat was only an observer. The public exchange has undercut months of efforts to improve bilateral relations. A longstanding disagreement over the language and cultural rights of Ukraine’s roughly 100,000-strong Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia remains central. In June, the two governments agreed on an action plan, after which Hungary approved the opening of two EU accession negotiating chapters for Ukraine. Budapest has since blocked further progress, saying Ukraine’s parliament must pass minority-rights legislation. Ukraine argues it has met its commitments and expects Hungary to unblock the remaining chapters. Tensions rose again when MOL and Naftogaz signed a memorandum to explore storing Ukrainian crude oil in Hungary. The arrangement could use MOL’s spare capacity while helping protect Ukrainian supplies from Russian attacks. Naftogaz publicly disclosed the talks, and Magyar—who reportedly had not been informed—reacted angrily. The provided article ends mid-sentence while describing his response.

Germany’s Accurec Recycling GmbH is expanding its lithium-ion battery recycling operations in Krefeld in an effort to recover more lithium in Europe and reduce reliance on China, which supplies an estimated 65% to 70% of the battery-grade lithium chemicals used in Europe. The family-owned company, founded in 1995, has recycled batteries for more than three decades and currently processes about 5,000 tonnes annually at Krefeld. Its new lithium recovery plant, which began operating in December 2025, initially recovers 50% of the lithium in processed batteries. Accurec is investing €5.5 million to expand the facility and hopes to raise recovery to 80% or more in early 2027, while increasing annual capacity to as much as 20,000 tonnes. Accurec’s CLIMA process uses thermal pre-treatment and pyrolysis to convert lithium into a water-soluble form, allowing it to be extracted with water rather than aggressive chemicals. The company says recovering heat from the process reduces energy consumption by almost 50% and cuts carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of lithium carbonate by more than 59%. The article describes a wider weakness in Europe’s recycling supply chain: many facilities produce “black mass,” an intermediate mixture of materials that must be further processed to recover individual raw materials. Since Europe has few plants for that step, much of the black mass is exported to Asia, especially China and South Korea. Accurec’s development head, Simon Bremer, says high prices offered by Asian buyers make it difficult for European processors to compete commercially. Accurec aims to keep recovered lithium in Europe and eventually create a closed loop in which recycled material is used in new European-made batteries. It has signed a memorandum of understanding with AMG Lithium in Germany, but technical details remain unresolved. Some recovered lithium is meanwhile used elsewhere or marketed in Asia. Bremer supports the EU’s classification of black mass as hazardous waste from December 2025, intended to tighten export controls. The supplied article ends before completing its discussion of what further policy changes he advocates.

The proposed suspension of the right to seek asylum in the European Union, raised by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the Ceuta migration crisis, has alarmed refugee advocates, civil society groups and left-wing Members of the European Parliament. The crisis followed the arrival of about 82,000 irregular migrants from Morocco in late July; several thousand remain in the Spanish exclave while their applications are assessed. Von der Leyen has proposed an emergency framework that could allow limited flexibility in standard asylum procedures, but the Commission has not set a timeline and details remain unclear. Critics say suspending access to asylum could enable collective pushbacks, in which people are returned without individual assessment. The UN Refugee Agency warns this could violate the principle of non-refoulement and expose people to torture, inhuman treatment, violence or death. EU rules currently allow any foreign national present in a member state to apply for asylum, with claims considered individually. The article also notes that the European Court of Human Rights has condemned pushbacks by Greece, Lithuania and Poland. The debate is complicated by previous national suspensions that the EU did not challenge. Greece temporarily suspended asylum processing in 2020 and 2025, while Poland did so in 2025 for migrants crossing from Belarus. Von der Leyen did not criticize Greece’s 2020 measure and once called the country “Europe’s shield,” prompting concern that a new EU mechanism might give governments broad discretion to suspend asylum access. Other MEPs accuse her of echoing far-right rhetoric, and French MEP Damien Carême says he is prepared to pursue legal action to defend fundamental rights. The Ceuta crisis also prompted calls for an emergency meeting and led Italy to restore air and maritime border controls with Spain for a month, disrupting Schengen free movement. The article concludes that the dispute is unfolding even as asylum applications and irregular arrivals across Europe have declined since 2023.

Fat Bear Week has opened its annual online voting, inviting people to choose which brown bear in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve has best prepared for winter hibernation. Sixteen bears are competing, including last year’s winner, Chunk, also known as Bear 32, who reportedly weighed 544 kilograms when he took the title. The competition, now in its 12th year, began in 2014 to raise awareness of the bears and their seasonal preparations. Explore.org resident naturalist Mike Fitz says the contest is about more than comparing size. Bears’ circumstances and stories matter too: gaining weight can mean different things for a large adult male competing for access to productive fishing spots than it does for other bears. The weight they build up is essential because they do not eat during hibernation, which lasts roughly six months. They can lose around a third of their body weight during that time. Katmai is home to about 2,200 brown bears. Adult males typically weigh 270 to 410 kilograms, while particularly large males can exceed 450 kilograms after feeding on salmon; females are generally about one-third smaller. Fitz also emphasizes the importance of healthy salmon populations, pointing to the sockeye runs in Alaska’s Bristol Bay as an example of what healthy river ecosystems can sustain. He says protecting and restoring salmon elsewhere in North America is especially important where populations are declining. The event also gives viewers a window into bear life, from fishing and play to the challenges mothers face feeding cubs and coping with their loss. The final round is scheduled for September 29, when the public will select the winner. Google has also added an interactive feature: searching for “Fat Bear Week” brings up a bear that users can feed virtual salmon to help it gain weight for hibernation.

The article reports that an exceptionally strong El Niño is developing in the equatorial Pacific, with sea surface temperatures already exceeding those recorded during previous El Niño events. Forecasts suggest the associated heat could contribute to an estimated 451,000 additional deaths between June 2026 and February 2027. The phenomenon could intensify heat, drought and heavy rainfall in vulnerable regions, while also pushing global temperatures higher. Impacts are already emerging: India has seen below-normal monsoon rainfall, and southern Africa faces elevated drought risk. California has declared a state of emergency in advance of possible flooding, landslides, coastal erosion and powerful winter storms. Europe may escape the worst direct effects, but disruptions to food production and imports could still affect the region. Experts emphasize that El Niño is a natural climate event and cannot be prevented, but forecasts provide time to reduce harm. Recommended measures include managing water and reservoirs carefully, changing farming and irrigation schedules, storing water, protecting crops and livestock, and preparing communities for droughts and floods. The UK has pledged up to £15 million to support preparations in vulnerable countries, including livestock vaccinations, flood protection for homes and cash assistance for farmers. The article also distinguishes El Niño’s temporary warming effect from human-caused climate change. El Niño typically raises global average temperatures by about 0.2°C, while fossil fuel emissions have already raised them roughly 1.3°C to 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels. Research cited in the article suggests climate change has strengthened El Niño events. Therefore, preparation can limit immediate losses, while reducing emissions can lessen the additional warming that makes El Niño’s consequences more severe. El Niño itself cannot be eliminated, but its damage is not wholly beyond human influence.

The article reports growing efforts by Israeli settlers to take control of natural springs in the occupied West Bank, which Palestinian communities depend on for water, irrigation and tourism. It highlights a case near the village of Fasayil, where water from a spring was diverted without authorisation to an ancient pool that was promoted as a tourist attraction named after Herod. Palestinian farmer Saad Nemer said the loss of water devastated his fields. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for overseeing civil matters in the West Bank, confirmed the diversion was unauthorised and said it would investigate. The site’s construction date is unclear, though nearby ruins date to Herod’s era. Israel’s Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu praised the diversion, said the pool would be drained for an archaeological survey, and discussed funding its rehabilitation. Rights group B’Tselem says efforts to claim heritage sites form part of a broader attempt to emphasise Israeli and Jewish historical, cultural and religious ties to the West Bank. Water access has been restricted for Palestinians since Israel took control of the West Bank in 1967, and settler attacks have compounded shortages. A UN humanitarian report said settlers damaged, destroyed or seized about 160 water and sanitation structures in Palestinian communities in 2026, with attacks increasingly disrupting shared infrastructure and supplies to entire communities. The article also describes an international response: 12 countries, including the UK and France, announced plans for trade restrictions on Israeli settlements. Their foreign ministers said Israeli actions, settlement expansion and unprecedented levels of settler violence undermine the possibility of a two-state solution. The report places the developments amid increased West Bank violence since the Gaza war began after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel. It cites a UN human rights estimate of about 737,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as of October 2024, and notes that settlements are illegal under international law.

The article compares Ljubljana and Zagreb as appealing but often overlooked Central European capitals, arguing that both deserve attention beyond Slovenia’s Lake Bled and Croatia’s coastal destinations. It notes that visitors can easily see both cities on one trip, since bus or train travel between them takes about two and a half hours. Ljubljana’s main draw is its compact, walkable centre, which has been closed to cars since 2007. Visitors can explore the Triple Bridge and other work by Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik, including Plečnik House, the National and University Library, and Križanke. Trubarjeva Street offers independent shops, cafés and restaurants, while the Friday Open Kitchen food market runs near the Central Market from March to October. Other highlights include Ljubljana Castle, accessible by funicular, and Metelkova Mesto, an alternative cultural centre in a former military barracks. Zagreb is also walkable, with many attractions in its Upper Town and a tram network for getting around. The route into the area passes through the medieval Stone Gate, which contains a shrine to Mary that survived a fire in the 18th century. St. Mark’s Church is known for its colourful roof tiles, while Lotrščak Tower’s Grič cannon is fired daily at noon, a tradition dating to 1877. The Museum of Broken Relationships offers a distinctive and often humorous collection of donated objects connected to breakups. Zagreb Cathedral remains under restoration following the 2020 earthquake. The article also recommends Zagreb’s Lower Town, with its 19th- and 20th-century architecture, the Green Horseshoe parks, the Botanical Garden, museums, galleries, and dining and nightlife around Ban Jelačić Square. Overall, it presents both cities as walkable, culturally rich alternatives to better-known destinations.

A large genomic and fossil study published in Nature proposes that bats originated in Europe around 65 million years ago, challenging longstanding assumptions that their origins lay in Asia, Africa, or the Americas. The research combines genome sequencing from 103 living bat species with analysis of 44 fossils. It was conducted through the Bat1K international consortium, with contributions from Spain’s National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) and the University of Granada. By jointly modelling fossil and living species, the researchers constructed a phylogenetic framework that places the oldest bat group and estimates where and when bats first appeared. Their findings suggest that descendants of the European population spread into Africa, forming a Euro-African core, before bats expanded into Asia, the Americas, and Australia. The study also indicates that powered flight and echolocation—defining features of bats—arose near the beginning of the group’s evolutionary history, rather than being acquired much later. The fossil genus Vielasia, positioned on the oldest branch of the bat family tree, supports this interpretation. Researchers say the work resolves decades of conflicting evolutionary findings and provides a robust tree of bat relationships. Its genomic resource may help explain the group’s exceptional diversity and distinctive adaptations. The implications could extend beyond bat biology: bats make up about one fifth of living mammal species, provide ecological services such as pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control, and are notable for disease resistance and longevity relative to their size. Scientists suggest that studying their genomes could also inform research on ageing, immunity, and disease resistance in humans.

Oktoberfest has reached its halfway point, with the busy “Italian weekend” taking place on 26 and 27 September. The weekend typically brings tens of thousands of visitors from Italy to Munich, and organisers are paying close attention to crowd movement after serious overcrowding at the festival in 2025. On the middle Saturday last year, the Theresienwiese reached capacity and access had to be temporarily closed. In some areas, including parts of Wirtsbudenstraße, the crowd became so dense that visitors could not move in either direction; videos from the time captured scenes described as being on the verge of mass panic. The article explains that “Italian weekend” is a longstanding informal term, not one tied to a particular historical event or start date. Its popularity is linked to the relatively easy journey from northern Italy across the Brenner Pass, as well as holidays and long weekends in the Italian calendar. Italian visitors’ presence is also reflected in local customs and practical arrangements: Munich newspapers sometimes print bilingual front pages, while Italian Carabinieri and fire crews from Bolzano assist Munich police with patrols and communication. To help prevent dangerous congestion, the city is increasingly using surveillance cameras and AI-based software to track crowds. Mobile-phone data also indicated that visitors stayed on the grounds an average of 15 minutes longer than in 2025. During the first week, the busiest time each day was between 17:00 and 18:00. The article raises the possibility of another temporary closure but does not say that one has been planned; instead, it describes monitoring and crowd-management measures as the festival passes its midpoint.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani faced widespread criticism after saying he would recommend marrying a “serious” woman who wears a longer skirt, describing such a partner as more reliable, more likely to be a good mother, and faithful. After his remarks drew condemnation, Tajani apologised, saying his comments had been taken out of a broader speech and that he had not intended to offend women. The apology did little to end the controversy, which spread beyond Italy and prompted memes shared internationally, including coverage by CNN and the BBC. Women senators from several opposition parties gathered at Palazzo Madama wearing skirts to demonstrate that women should be free to choose how they dress without being judged. Other opposition politicians, and some men, joined the online protest. The article also notes remarks by Roberto Vannacci, who said he preferred women “without a skirt,” and reports criticism from former prime minister Matteo Renzi, who said Tajani had become a meme rather than a minister. The CGIL union argued that contrasting “flashy” women with “serious” and “reliable” women revived a social model in which men decide what makes women respectable. A representative of the Italian Bishops’ Conference called for respect and admiration toward women. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, however, described Tajani’s comment as an awkward phrase and urged people not to exaggerate the controversy. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto defended Tajani’s right to express a personal opinion, while League senator Stefania Pucciarelli criticised what she saw as inconsistency in arguments about women’s freedom. The article presents the dispute as a debate over gender stereotypes, personal freedom, and the responsibilities of public officials.

The article explores how Barcelona’s Sagrada Família is approaching a major milestone more than 140 years after construction began. Its Tower of Jesus Christ has reached 172.5 metres, making the basilica taller than Ulm Minster and the world’s tallest church. The progress coincides with the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death and follows years of delays and setbacks. The article presents the building as both a religious work rich in symbolism and an engineering project that combines Gaudí’s geometric vision with modern construction methods. It describes the basilica’s design as a “Bible in stone”: its 12 towers represent the apostles, its floor plan evokes Christ’s body, and its façades depict episodes from Jesus’s life. The article also notes details such as Gaudí’s likeness on the Passion Façade, the unusual depiction of Christ, and stories connecting the building to Star Wars and the legend of Saint George and the dragon. Pope Leo XIV recently visited Barcelona to bless the central tower, which contains a glass lamb by Italian artist Andrea Mastrovito. A public viewing platform is expected to open there in 2027. The final towers posed substantial structural challenges. To speed construction, engineers used a modular system of 826 panels, assembled from more than 2,100 stone pieces at a quarry. Steel and stone were bonded with Henkel’s Loctite EA 9497 epoxy, which cures under controlled conditions. Completed panels were then lifted into place and assembled with millimetre precision. The article says this approach made construction up to ten times faster: work completed in about eight years might have taken 50 to 60 years using traditional methods. Gaudí, who left models and instructions for future generations, would not live to see the work completed.

Norway’s electric-vehicle market is expanding rapidly, and Chinese-owned car brands are gaining a substantial foothold despite increasing consumer concerns about them. Electric cars made up 97.8% of new Norwegian car registrations in the first eight months of 2026, while Chinese brands or brands owned by Chinese companies accounted for about one-quarter of new EV registrations in the first half of the year. Their share was virtually nonexistent in 2019, and an industry report suggests Chinese-owned brands could overtake European brands in Norway as soon as 2027 if current trends continue. At the same time, a survey of nearly 15,000 Norwegian EV owners found that 31% would avoid buying a Chinese brand for political reasons, up from 23% the previous year. Concerns include data privacy and security. The article notes earlier findings that a NIO car transmitted data to China and that Yutong could access the control system of a bus, potentially allowing it to stop or disable the vehicle remotely. Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association secretary general Christina Bu says buyers balance these concerns against factors such as price and technology. The article places Norway’s experience within a wider European trend. Chinese-brand groups’ combined share of the EU new-car market rose from 6.6% to 10.8%, with registrations up about 71% year-on-year in August. Meanwhile, political opposition to Tesla among Norwegian survey respondents declined: 24% said they would avoid the brand for political reasons, compared with 43% the previous year. Tesla nevertheless remained Norway’s best-selling new-car brand, with a 17.5% share of registrations through 24 September. Overall, the article examines how consumer choices, security concerns, political views and market growth intersect in the EV transition.

Thousands of people gathered in Madrid on Saturday for the second “March for Dignity,” calling for a general election and expressing support for Ceuta amid an unresolved migrant crisis. Organised by Sociedad Civil Española with support from the People’s Party (PP) and Vox, the march began at Plaza de Cibeles and was scheduled to end near the Arco del Triunfo in Moncloa. Vox leader Santiago Abascal attended and called for migrants who had arrived in Ceuta to be returned to their countries of origin. He also accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government of encouraging migration and serving Morocco. The crisis began in late July, when tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish North African territory. A previous March for Dignity, held before that mass arrival, called for Sánchez’s resignation and snap elections. Estimates of its attendance ranged from about 40,000, according to the Government Delegation, to as many as 120,000, according to organisers. Demonstrations were also held in Spanish cities on Ceuta’s official day on 2 September. Conditions in Ceuta remain unsettled nearly two months after the influx. About 8,300 migrants are being housed in facilities, while more than 4,000 are estimated to remain on the streets. Morocco has accused Spain of obstructing returns. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares recently discussed the matter in New York with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who cited obstacles and controversies that he said were being fuelled partly by Spain’s political class. Local authorities continue surveillance and assistance. Police arrested three Moroccan nationals over alleged involvement in the detention of two migrant minors, who received treatment at Ceuta University Hospital. Separately, 63 women, alone or with young children, were moved to a facility at Hípica. Authorities also found a makeshift settlement in underground tunnels, where 30 to 50 migrants were thought to have stayed. A young Moroccan man died at a camp near Trampolín beach; the cause of death had not been established.

Boeing has identified a software glitch in certain 737 Max aircraft that may prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance in a specific landing situation. According to a Wall Street Journal report citing company documents, the problem followed a cockpit software update and can arise when a crew changes its planned flight path after a missed approach. The number of aircraft currently operating with the affected software was not known. Boeing said it notified all 737 operators in August and advised them of existing procedures for handling the scenario safely. The company said engineers are developing a software update intended to permanently resolve the issue. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was aware of a potential problem involving a flight-computer software update on certain 737 Max aircraft and is working with Boeing and airlines. The agency plans to convene a Corrective Action Review Board and said it will act immediately if it identifies a safety concern. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have reportedly asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 Max aircraft with the affected software, requesting instead that the aircraft use an earlier version. Boeing, airlines and regulators are assessing the issue and whether it presents a flight-safety concern. The report comes amid continued regulatory and safety scrutiny of Boeing. The article cites the fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft, as well as a cabin-panel blowout on a nearly new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9. The article does not report that the software glitch has caused an accident or specify how many planes are affected.

Hurricane Polo regained Category 5 strength on Saturday after moving away from Mexico’s Pacific coast, but forecasters expected it to turn back and make landfall in Baja California Sur on Monday. The US National Hurricane Center reported that, on Saturday morning, the storm was about 425 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, moving northwest at 10 mph. AccuWeather warned that roughly 24 hours after striking Baja California, Polo could make a second landfall on the coast of northwestern mainland Mexico. Its rainfall could bring life-threatening flash flooding to parts of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora and Chihuahua. The National Hurricane Center said hurricane conditions were possible Monday afternoon from Punta Eugenia to Santa Fe in Baja California. It forecast 4 to 8 inches of rain across parts of Baja California Sur, with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches, raising the risk of flooding and mudslides. Dangerous surf, rip currents and coastal flooding were also possible. The storm had already prompted evacuations, port closures and school cancellations along Mexico’s Pacific coast during the week. In San Jose del Cabo, police restricted access to a beach on Friday as high waves and dangerous surf developed. The article reports the forecasts and precautions, emphasizing the potential hazards as Polo approached the peninsula and possibly the mainland coast.

President Donald Trump sought on September 25 to withhold more than US$800 million in funding that Congress had approved for programmes involving immigration, racial-minority businesses and education, as well as overseas conservation. The White House said the programmes involved wasteful or harmful spending and argued that they supported illegal immigration, heightened racial tensions or promoted alarmist environmental approaches. The action forms part of a wider dispute between the Trump administration and Congress over control of federal spending and Congress’s constitutional authority over appropriations. The administration is using a rarely applied procedure known as a “pocket rescission,” which it says enables it to withhold the funds without congressional approval. Senator Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, denounced the move as illegal and said rescinding appropriated funds without Congress’s consent violates the law and undermines Congress’s power of the purse. Her comments come as she faces a close re-election race in Maine. The article notes that the Supreme Court declined in 2025 to block Trump from using the same tactic to withhold US$4.9 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress. Litigation over that earlier action continued. The latest move therefore renews questions about the limits of presidential authority to delay or cancel spending approved by lawmakers, and about the legal status of the pocket-rescission approach.

Microsoft is expanding the integration of Word, Excel and PowerPoint into its AI assistant, Copilot, positioning the assistant as a central way to access its productivity software. In the coming weeks, individual Microsoft 365 subscribers and businesses participating in a testing programme will be able to create, edit and share files within Copilot, without moving between separate applications. Microsoft executive Jacob Andreou stressed that the offering is full Office functionality, rather than a simplified document viewer. The move comes as AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic have also introduced document-creation tools; both are important suppliers of the models that currently power Copilot. Although Microsoft announced its own models in June, they are currently used in only a limited number of products, and a low-cost model for routine tasks has not yet launched. Copilot now also includes Autopilot, an automated assistant that can run continuously online, including when a user’s computer is off. Formerly called Scout, it remains available to only a small number of clients. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella compared the workplace adoption of AI with the arrival of personal computers, recalling how emailed spreadsheets gradually displaced internal memos sent by fax. He also identified a key concern for businesses: being able to switch between AI models without losing data or organisational knowledge. He argued that companies should maintain private evaluation systems to support that independence. Microsoft’s Copilot subscription costs US$30 per user per month and includes basic functions such as data analysis and document drafting. More advanced agents, which use greater computing resources, are charged according to usage. Andreou suggested offering basic AI access broadly across a company while initially reserving more powerful tools for a smaller group of high-performing employees.

Prince Harry said his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are happy at their new school in England. He made the comment in a CTV News interview on Sept 25, following a skydiving event in the Toronto area to raise money for two veterans’ charities. Harry also said being back in Britain gives him a chance to focus on the Invictus Games, the sporting event for wounded veterans scheduled to take place in Birmingham in July 2027. Harry and his wife, Meghan, returned to Britain in August after living in the United States for six years. They had stepped back from their roles as working members of the British monarchy amid a bitter dispute with Harry’s family. British media outlets reported that the couple moved their children to a different school soon after returning, citing security concerns. Hello! magazine reported that the distance to the school and heavy traffic along the route were factors in those concerns. The family is reportedly living in the Cotswolds, in central England. The article also describes Harry’s relationships with members of the royal family: he appears to have improved relations with his father, King Charles III, who is battling cancer, during recent visits to Britain. However, reports say he remains estranged from his brother, Prince William, the heir to the throne, and William’s wife, Catherine. The article presents the school move, Harry’s return and his family relationships as reported developments, while attributing some details to British media.

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said South Africa remains willing to discuss disagreements with the United States, despite being surprised by US visa restrictions announced on September 15. The restrictions followed discussions about issues including rules governing Black employment and ownership for foreign investors, and ways to accommodate new US entrants into South Africa’s mining sector. Lamola said the talks had been making progress before Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the visa curbs, whose targets were not specified. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Lamola described the United States as an important strategic partner and said Pretoria did not want a “tit-for-tat war” because of the countries’ economic ties. At the same time, he characterized the current US administration as unpredictable and criticized the US ambassador’s claim that the visa restrictions were the first in a series of escalating measures and that dialogue had run its course. Lamola argued that continuing dialogue is central to diplomacy, while acknowledging that only Washington knows whether the relationship can recover. Other sources of tension include the Trump administration’s criticism of South African policies aimed at addressing racial inequality, US pressure over land reform, and South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Lamola called the US resettlement program for white Afrikaners “race-based” and questioned whether participants qualify as refugees, noting that some continue to visit South Africa. However, he said Pretoria would not prevent or interfere with those choosing to take part. On the case against Israel, he said it must be decided independently by the court and emphasized the importance of international law as an equalizer among nations.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that renewed fighting in Ethiopia is putting civilians at serious risk and urged all parties to prevent a return to full-scale war. His warning came as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) seized local airports and launched attacks into Afar and Amhara, with support from local armed groups. The TPLF said the region was again in a “full-blown war” with Ethiopia’s federal government. The UN human rights office reported that Ethiopian National Defence Force airstrikes, some conducted with drones, struck five schools in Tigray on Sept. 22, causing deaths and injuries. A mortar strike reportedly carried out by federal forces in Kobo, Amhara, on Sept. 23 also killed civilians. Türk called on all parties to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian workers can reach everyone in need safely and without obstruction. Türk also expressed concern about the near-total disruption of internet and phone services. The communications blackout has raised fears that Tigray could again face a blockade like the one imposed during the 2020–2022 civil war, when electricity, banking services and almost all aid were cut off. That conflict was among the deadliest in recent times, with an estimated death toll exceeding 600,000. The UN rights chief further condemned reports of forced mass recruitment by the TPLF, including the recruitment of children and reprisals against people who resisted and their families. He also cited reports of arbitrary conscription by government forces. Together, the renewed hostilities, alleged civilian casualties, communications disruptions and forced recruitment point to worsening risks for civilians and an expanding humanitarian crisis.

Federal Trade Commission chairman Andrew Ferguson said the agency should generally hold the developers or companies that instruct AI agents responsible for harm caused by those systems, rather than treating the agents as independent actors. Speaking at the Reuters Momentum AI event in Austin, he rejected descriptions of AI tools as having their own wills or breaking free of human control. Ferguson said reviews of audit trails in some incidents suggested agents were following instructions they had received. He argued that existing legal tools, including FTC authority related to companies’ failure to disclose data breaches, could apply to AI developers. His comments come amid concern about AI agents gaining unauthorised access to corporate or government data and questions about whether current oversight and cybersecurity measures are adequate. Ferguson also said the FTC is preparing a market study on personalised pricing. The agency plans to seek information from consumer-facing companies to examine whether businesses use data such as location and browsing history to charge different prices to different people. The practice has drawn concern from lawmakers focused on affordability and transparency. Ferguson identified delivery and rideshare apps, as well as airlines, as areas of particular concern. The article notes that Delta denied personalising prices using individuals’ data, while American Airlines executives said such pricing could undermine customer trust. Uber and Instacart also said they did not use personal information to set prices after a congressional committee requested information. The planned study follows a previous FTC study initiated by Ferguson’s predecessor, Lina Khan, which focused on pricing-data and consulting providers. Separately, the FTC is seeking public feedback on a potential rule to discourage platforms such as Meta and Google from allowing fraudulent or misleading advertisements. Ferguson said investigations into ad fraud had persuaded him that clearer requirements for online platforms were needed. The agency aims to clarify rules and encourage platforms to take steps to mitigate fraud.

The Straits Times roundup presents five international stories published on Sept 26, 2026. First, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a three-day summit with tea at the White House and a visit to the National Archives. Their public remarks emphasized goodwill and a more stable relationship, but the article notes that the summit produced no major announced breakthroughs in economic relations. Trump alluded to benefits for American farmers without giving details; Xi described the relationship as one of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity. Second, Trump again urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky rejected the suggestion during a meeting at the United Nations and reportedly took offense. Asked when he would go to Moscow, he answered, “On a missile,” followed by an expletive. Third, Volkswagen confirmed a worldwide recall of more than three million vehicles over a potential steering risk identified by Germany’s transport authority. The affected vehicles include several Volkswagen models made from 2013 to 2024 and about 700,000 Audi models made from 2017 to 2024. A German newspaper also reported that Seat and Skoda vehicles were included. Fourth, reports said Manchester City had been found guilty of all but one of 115 Premier League financial-regulation charges. No sanctions had been decided, and the club was reportedly preparing to appeal; the Premier League declined to comment to AFP. Finally, a woman who had accused Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of assaulting her when she was 13 said in a court filing that her accusations were false and that she had never met Jay-Z. She had dropped her civil lawsuit against the two in 2025. The roundup briefly reports these developments without extended analysis.

Saudi Arabia’s Saudi-led coalition said early on Saturday, September 26, that it had intercepted two drones launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement toward Riyadh. The coalition announced on X that it was monitoring a missile threat and drones directed at the kingdom, but did not provide further details. Saudi civil defence had issued overnight alerts for Khamis Mushait and Abha, though not for the capital. The report places the incident amid an ongoing pattern of Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis control Yemen’s most populous areas and much of the north, and have been carrying out attacks since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. Their strikes have targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, as well as cities and energy infrastructure. The article says the attacks are adding pressure to global oil supplies already affected by the US-Israeli war on Iran. They also threaten the Red Sea as an important alternative route for Gulf exports while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked. The report, attributed to Reuters, does not give information about damage, casualties, or the precise circumstances of the interception.

A vehicle carrying fireworks exploded during an unauthorized religious procession in San Francisco Tepojaco, part of the municipality of Cuautitlán Izcalli in central Mexico, killing 15-year-old Alejandro González and injuring 12 others. The procession took place Thursday during an annual patron saint festival honoring San Francisco de Asis. Video of the event shows adults and children celebrating before the fireworks catch fire and the vehicle explodes. The blast knocks the person filming to the ground, while people nearby flee and additional fireworks continue to go off. State of Mexico authorities reported the death and injuries. González died while receiving treatment at Lomas Verdes Trauma and Orthopedics Hospital in Naucalpan, and was buried Friday afternoon. One injured man, Federico Ruiz, was not found until Friday morning, when he was discovered about three miles from the explosion site. He had burns to his lower limbs and other parts of his body. Cuautitlán Izcalli Mayor Daniel Serrano’s administration said it had not issued a permit for the procession. Officials noted that the event was not part of the authorization process for festivities scheduled to begin October 2, and urged organizers to notify the municipality about crowd-gathering activities, especially those involving pyrotechnics. The explosion occurred nearly three weeks after a separate blast involving pyrotechnic material in a warehouse in Temascalcingo, also in the State of Mexico. That incident killed at least 11 people and injured 81. A 12-year-old girl who suffered burns over 50% of her body was transferred to Shriners Children’s Texas in Galveston for further treatment.

A study by Carnegie China says China overtook the United States in 2025 as the destination for the world’s leading AI researchers. It estimates that 41% of top researchers went to China, compared with 34% to US companies—a reversal from 2022, when the US attracted 46% and China 27%. The study also reports a widening Chinese advantage in the educational backgrounds of elite researchers: 57% had earned undergraduate degrees in China in 2025, versus 13% in the US. In 2022, the corresponding share for China was 11%. The researchers counted as elite were academics and engineers whose papers were accepted by NeurIPS, following a method also used by the think tank Macro Polo. The article attributes part of China’s growing appeal to major companies such as DeepSeek and MoonShotAI, which reportedly offer salaries comparable to those in Silicon Valley. It presents the figures as a significant shift in competition for AI talent, while noting that the study comes from Carnegie China, a China-based branch of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Deep-tech investor Lior Prosor warns that China is a formidable, well-funded competitor producing a large share of AI researchers and PhDs. At the same time, he argues that the US retains important advantages: its ability to attract talent from both within the country and abroad, abundant private capital, and a competitive entrepreneurial environment. His conclusion is that the US should respond to China’s gains by investing further in its ability to draw and support top talent, rather than overlooking its existing strengths.

Merengue singer Julián Oro Duro’s wife, Zeneida Castillo, was killed during a robbery at the couple’s home in Santo Domingo Oeste, Dominican Republic, according to authorities. Kevin Germán, 23, said in a YouTube interview that he and Lawrence “Chiquito” Liranzo, 18, were welcomed inside by Castillo, who knew Liranzo as one of her husband’s employees. After chatting for about 40 minutes, Liranzo allegedly struck Castillo with a flower vase, then choked and stabbed her. Germán claimed he did not harm her and said Liranzo threatened him to keep him from leaving. Castillo’s mother, who has Alzheimer’s, was reportedly locked in a bedroom. The account alleges that Phillips Tejada, the singer’s right-hand man and driver, told the men where to find cash and instructed them to stay until the singer returned so they could take his gold necklace. Julián Oro Duro, whose real name is Gilberto Sarante, arrived around 1 a.m. Monday and was struck with a mahogany statue before the attackers stole his chain and fled. He was hospitalized with an intracranial hemorrhage and craniofacial injuries, underwent surgery, and was released Friday. Germán turned himself in Wednesday evening after the interview. Tejada, Liranzo, and Juan Hernández were also arrested separately. Their initial court appearance, first scheduled for Friday, was moved to September 30. Authorities recovered more than $30,000, 196,000 Dominican pesos, two watches including a Rolex, and other valuables from the defendants’ homes. Castillo was buried in Santo Domingo Este. At her funeral, artists called for stronger action against crime. Music producer Chino Mendéz said the situation had “gotten out of hand,” while comedian and musician Andrés Martínez likened the island’s crime problem to El Salvador before President Nayib Bukele took office and reduced its homicide rate.

Iranian prosecutors have opened a criminal case against a theater company after a cellphone video showed actress Fatemeh Masoudifar resting her head against the chest of co-star Mehrdad Sedighian during a performance. Authorities described the conduct as a violation of “social norms.” The play, “Tehran Paris Tehran,” follows Sara, a young woman who travels from Tehran to Paris and back to seek revenge for her father’s murder. In the scene that prompted scrutiny, Sedighian appears to place a hand over Masoudifar’s head. The Islamic Republic prohibits public physical contact between unrelated men and women, including on stage. The production company responded that the video was filmed from a tight angle, making the actors appear closer than they were at Tehran’s Book Garden. It also said the characters are brother and sister, so their contact would not be prohibited under Islamic law. The company described the embrace as occurring during a crisis in the story. The case comes amid other legal action against Iranian artists over alleged breaches of religious rules. Earlier in the same week, an appeals court in Qom upheld convictions against singer Parastoo Ahmadi and seven other musicians for a December 2024 YouTube concert in which Ahmadi performed without a hijab. The group was sentenced to 74 lashes each and barred from performing or traveling for two years. The article presents the theater case as part of a wider pattern of legal consequences for artists in Iran.

The article reports that Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, was injured during the February 28 strikes that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and later had to be rescued from rubble after a Tehran hospital was bombed. The account comes from Mohsen Heydari, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, who described the episode in an interview with Qatari broadcaster Al Araby. Heydari said Khamenei had been taken to the third of three hospitals reportedly hit in Tehran and was pulled from the debris before disappearing from public view. Khamenei has not appeared publicly or been heard speaking since. The article also recounts how the Assembly of Experts selected him as supreme leader on March 8. After the assembly’s Qom Secretariat was reportedly bombed, killing eight people and destroying documents related to the succession, members wrote their votes on paper and met in a secret location. Heydari said he was the first to propose Khamenei, despite President Donald Trump’s warning against choosing the late leader’s son. Khamenei received 50 of 59 votes; eight went to Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, and one member abstained. Heydari said members considered Khamenei qualified and capable of leading, and described him as a “man of the shadows,” noting he had held no formal state political role before succeeding his father. The report highlights continuing uncertainty about Khamenei’s health. US intelligence reports have suggested he was badly disfigured, while Trump said he believed Khamenei was alive but seriously wounded. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, by contrast, claimed Khamenei was completely healthy and said the two had met for about seven hours the previous month. These competing accounts leave Khamenei’s condition and whereabouts unclear.

A 29-year-old pregnant police officer, Marian Jofré, was accidentally shot in the back at the 34th Precinct in La Bebida, San Juan Province, Argentina, on the morning of September 14. Jofré was six months pregnant and was handling administrative duties with her partner, fellow officer Cristian Albarracín, when his service weapon discharged. According to prosecutors, Albarracín was unaware the gun was loaded. Jofré was treated at the scene and taken to a hospital in critical condition. She later underwent surgery to remove the bullet, was discharged the following day, and was reportedly never at risk of losing her pregnancy. The article does not report that she delivered the baby; its gender and delivery date are unknown. Albarracín told investigators that he and another officer had pursued a crime suspect. During the operation, he loaned the other officer his weapon, which was returned to him loaded and without warning. Investigators have believed the shooting was accidental. Albarracín was questioned and later released, but was charged with negligent injury and failure to perform the duties of a public official. A judge allowed prosecutors eight months to complete the investigation and ordered Albarracín to report monthly to a local precinct, seek approval before traveling outside Argentina, and avoid interfering with evidence or the investigation. His current position in the police department is unknown. Jofré’s cousin, Carla Barman, criticized authorities for not giving the family information for more than eight hours after the shooting, despite media reports about Jofré’s condition and conflicting claims about whether Albarracín had died. The article says The Post sought comment from the San Juan Police Department.

Astrophysicists from Harvard and the University of Oregon, Eugene, report detecting radio signals from Beta Pictoris b, a gas-giant exoplanet about 64 light-years from Earth. The article describes the finding as the first detection of a radio signal from a planet beyond the Solar System, while noting that the research has not yet been peer-reviewed. The team, led by Harvard and Smithsonian astrophysicist Kevin Ortiz Ceballos, used the MeerKAT radio telescope array in South Africa to observe the signal. After determining that it came from the planet rather than its host star, the researchers attributed the bursts to auroral radio emissions—signals associated with high-energy particles interacting with gas near a planet’s magnetic poles. Beta Pictoris b is described as young and massive, with a mass about 12 times that of Jupiter. The researchers also used the signal to estimate the planet’s magnetic field at 1,250 gauss, which the article says is nearly 291 times stronger than Jupiter’s 4.3-gauss field. According to the article, this marks the first measurement of an exoplanet’s magnetic field. Such fields can help protect a planet’s atmosphere from being stripped away. The researchers hope to apply the same method to other giant exoplanets, potentially helping scientists learn more about planets across the galaxy and where life might be found. The article also notes that Ortiz Ceballos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The article reports that Ukraine’s Third Army Corps says it used airdropped unmanned ground vehicles in a covert operation called “Operation Vivaldi” in Donetsk. The mission reportedly began in May and concluded the week before the corps publicly announced it. Ukrainian officials say the operation recaptured five villages and three settlements, reclaiming 48 square miles of territory, and resulted in 3,000 Russian soldiers being killed or otherwise taken out of action. The article does not independently verify those figures. According to Gen. Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps, Ukraine was the first to use this tactic: bomber drones dropped small, four-wheeled ground robots as far as nine miles behind Russian lines. Cameras mounted on the robots recorded the operation. The unit reportedly carried out more than 15,700 missions against Russian command posts, shelters, logistics hubs and river crossings. The article situates the operation in Donetsk, one of the two provinces comprising the Donbas, an industrial and mineral-rich region sought by Russian President Vladimir Putin. It says Russia occupies about 80% of Donetsk. Biletskyi’s comments emphasize the surprise advantage of attacking from the ground, where Russian forces were said to expect threats from the air. The report presents the deployment as a novel battlefield tactic and a significant Ukrainian operation, using dramatic language to describe its claimed impact.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights added 61 companies to its Database of Business Enterprises, which tracks companies with specified activities in Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem. The annual report brings the database to 214 companies headquartered in 11 countries. Among the listed businesses are Motorola, Airbnb, Booking.com and Tripadvisor; five entities were removed since the previous publication. The database was established in 2020 under a UN Human Rights Council resolution and is intended to cover companies involved in activities such as construction, surveillance, demolitions and destruction of agricultural land in Jewish communities in the areas. The article notes that the list has been updated only twice before, despite a yearly reporting mandate, and that 381 of 596 companies reported for potential violations have been reviewed. The UN’s position is that the communities beyond the 1949 armistice lines are in occupied Palestinian territory. UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the database reminds businesses of their human rights responsibilities and their expected due diligence. Israel’s mission to the UN in Geneva sharply criticized the mechanism, calling it politically motivated and discriminatory, and argued that no comparable blacklist applies to other disputed or occupied territories. It also said the database could deter companies from operating in conflict-affected areas and harm the livelihoods of the local population. The article presents the UN’s stated purpose alongside Israel’s objections and reports the database’s scope, history and current figures.

Current and former FBI agents have told BBC News they are fearful and angry after a cyberattack that appears to have exposed personal information about the agency’s workforce. The hacking group ShinyHunters says it breached FBI systems and threatens to publish the stolen data unless the agency meets its demands. The FBI acknowledged the breach and said it is investigating how it happened. Samples shared by the hackers appear to contain names, home addresses, phone numbers, badge numbers, job titles, information about spouses, and sensitive medical records, including test results and doctors’ notes. Agents fear the information could enable harassment, convincing phishing attacks, extortion, physical violence, or efforts by hostile foreign intelligence services to recruit them. Former FBI officials warn that family members may also be exposed and that some data is already circulating online, where it could remain available for years. The breach has provoked particular anger because ShinyHunters is not generally considered a highly sophisticated hacking group. Some former agents describe the security failures as sloppy and say the FBI’s suggested use of a personal-data removal service is inadequate. The group is reportedly seeking the retraction of an FBI advisory it says offended it, rather than money. The incident is also embarrassing for the bureau, which has struggled to stop ShinyHunters and other young cyber criminals from carrying out high-profile attacks. However, security experts expect the FBI to use its resources and partnerships to pursue those responsible. The article notes that the breach may add to scrutiny of FBI Director Kash Patel’s leadership.

Mississippi police believe Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black mother of four, was already dead when her body was placed hanging in a tree at an abandoned home in Jackson in August. A detective disclosed in court that investigators believe Fortune was killed in a dispute related to drugs and that the hanging was staged. Police have said the medical examiner classified her death as a homicide, but officials have not disclosed the precise cause of death or explained what evidence led them to conclude the scene was staged. The discovery heightened fear and speculation in Jackson, a majority-Black city with a long history of racial violence and lynchings. Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, said the coroner had told her that the case was not being treated as an actual hanging and that her daughter was dead before being placed in the tree. Spivey said police described the incident as drug-related. While expressing confidence that her daughter fought for her life, she also urged investigators to ensure they had identified the right people and said she did not want anyone innocent imprisoned. Fortune left four children, aged seven, five, four and one. Three people have been arrested in connection with the case. Jarques Ratliff, 51, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail. Earnest Lloyd Jr, 25, was arrested this week, and Eric Clark, 45, turned himself in on Friday and was charged with murder. Clark was scheduled to appear in court on Monday. All three are Black. The case comes amid broader calls for federal scrutiny of hanging deaths involving Black people. Representative Ayanna Pressley cited at least 10 documented incidents in a letter to Congress signed by more than 50 lawmakers, urging the Justice Department and FBI to investigate such deaths. A recent case in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was ruled a suicide.

The town council of Heidenau, near Dresden in Saxony, has voted to ban Stolpersteine—small brass plaques embedded in pavements to commemorate Jews and other victims of Nazi persecution. The memorials are usually installed outside places where victims lived or worked and have been used across Germany and other European countries since the 1990s. Heidenau’s council motion said residents considered this form of remembrance inappropriate and directed that future memorials be placed at the Nordfriedhof cemetery, where people would not step directly on them. The decision was supported by councillors from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Germany’s Education Minister Karin Prien, herself a CDU member, called the ban a “scandal” and argued that removing memorials from public spaces risks making Jewish people invisible. She also said her party’s Saxon branch shared responsibility for the decision. Charlotte Knobloch, a Holocaust survivor and president of the Jewish Community in Munich, condemned the move as the wrong approach. Although she does not support Stolpersteine specifically, she argued that remembrance should be present throughout public spaces rather than confined to a cemetery. Munich does not permit Stolpersteine on municipal land, but it allows memorial plaques on public buildings. Artist Gunter Demnig, who initiated the Stolperstein project, said the ban was foreseeable given the AfD’s recent electoral successes. The article notes that some AfD branches are classified by German domestic intelligence as right-wing extremist, a label the party rejects. Its anti-immigration and “Germany first” politics have gained support in eastern Germany, including in former communist regions.

Papua’s tropical glaciers, once spread across the Sudirman Range, have nearly disappeared. A century ago, permanent ice covered all four of the range’s major peaks; today, only small patches remain around Puncak Jaya, also known as Carstensz Pyramid. The remaining ice is expected to vanish within a year or two. Glacier cover has declined from nearly 1,900 hectares in the 19th Century to about 16 hectares today, with a 95% retreat from the early 2000s to 2025, according to researcher Klaus Thymann. Scientists say the glaciers are especially valuable because they are isolated from other glacier systems and preserve climate records in ice cores. Those records could help explain atmospheric conditions and changes in the warm tropical Pacific, but the ice is disappearing before it can be fully studied. Researchers attribute the retreat to human-caused warming, which raises freezing levels and causes more precipitation to fall as rain. El Niño and local conditions also affect the rate of loss. The mountain is also a sacred place for at least five Indigenous groups. The Moni call it Mbainggela, while the Amungme know it as Nemangkawi, or the “White Arrow,” a symbol of moral integrity. Amungme activists describe the melting ice as a profound cultural loss, comparing the destruction of the mountain’s significance to the destruction of Mecca or the Vatican. The article places the glacier’s decline alongside broader changes caused by mining and development. Copper and gold extraction, including operations around the Grasberg mine, have altered landscapes and contributed to environmental degradation and social conflict. Development has also brought jobs, roads, education and livelihoods, creating mixed feelings among local people. Scientists and explorers are now using drones and 3D mapping to document what remains, while Indigenous community members warn that damage to sacred landscapes can weaken the foundations of their culture.

Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old mother of four, was found hanging from a tree at an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi, in August. The discovery alarmed residents in the majority-Black city, where the history of racial violence and lynchings heightened fears about the circumstances of her death. On Friday, police said the medical examiner had determined Fortune was already dead before her body was hung, and described the scene as staged. Her death has been ruled a homicide, but authorities have not disclosed the exact cause of death or a possible motive. Three people, all Black, have been arrested. Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, told the BBC she was shocked and still had more questions than answers. She said police had not explained how the suspects were connected to her daughter, when Fortune died, or what killed her. Although learning that her daughter had not died by hanging initially brought Spivey some peace, she said the latest information had left her distressed. She hopes investigators have arrested the right people. Police told a court that Fortune may have been killed in a drug-related dispute, possibly over allegations that she stole drugs. Spivey rejected the allegations, while acknowledging that her daughter had struggled with addiction and was trying to recover. She emphasized that addiction would not justify the way Fortune’s body was found. Fortune was homeless at the time of her death, though she often stayed in other people’s homes. Her four sons, aged between one and seven, are now living with a mix of family and friends; two are in the process of being adopted. The case had already prompted community concern and calls from lawmakers for federal investigations, and the police update has added to the uncertainty.

An independent review of security arrangements for Charlie Kirk’s 10 September 2025 appearance at Utah Valley University (UVU) found significant planning and coordination shortcomings. Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist, was shot and killed while addressing about 3,000 people in an Orem campus courtyard, from a nearby rooftop. The report says UVU did not prepare a written security assessment or event action plan, and left key decisions to Kirk’s organisation, Turning Point USA (TPUSA). Although university officials had raised concerns about the courtyard’s location among tall buildings and suggested alternatives, a TPUSA representative insisted on using the site. Reviewers found no documented line-of-sight assessment and said coordination between university police and Kirk’s private security team was inadequate. A planned meeting between security personnel did not occur; reviewers called the missing joint briefing and site walk-through a missed opportunity to identify risks and clarify responsibilities. The review did not find that any university employee or representative acted in bad faith or showed “willful and wanton disregard” for safety. Kirk’s family, which had previously alleged serious failures and filed a wrongful-death notice, said the findings supported its concerns. The family’s lawyer, Brett Parkinson, called for accountability from UVU leadership and law enforcement. TPUSA referred questions about the report to the lawyer’s statement. UVU President Jon Anderson said the university would learn from the findings and act on the recommendations, which are aimed at improving security for major campus events. Earlier reporting had also identified missed precautions, including rooftop monitoring by drone and screening with bag checks or metal detectors. Kirk was shot while discussing US mass shootings with students as part of a campus tour. His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder; prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

South Africa’s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, has rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that white Afrikaners face genocide in South Africa. Meyer, himself an Afrikaner and a former key negotiator in ending apartheid, told the BBC that claims of a mass attack on the white minority do not reflect reality. He said South African violence has been misrepresented and urged the US to consider the wider picture of crime in the country. The Trump administration has admitted nearly 13,000 refugees through a pathway created for Afrikaners and plans to accept up to 17,500 more over the next year. Some South Africans seeking refuge, including a woman identified publicly as Lielie and Freedom Front Plus council member SJ Du Venage, describe feeling unsafe and allege targeted violence against white farmers. The White House says the programme offers a lifeline to Afrikaners facing violence. Meyer and other critics argue that crime, though serious, does not amount to persecution or genocide. The article notes that police data shows most crime victims, including victims of farm crime, are black, and that farm violence accounts for a smaller share of homicides. Former US refugee official Larry Bartlett questions whether the programme is appropriate for people who may not meet the legal standard for refugee status, given limited places for those fleeing war or ethnic cleansing. Pastor Rudi Swanepoel argues that some Afrikaners’ grievances stem from a loss of privilege as South Africa became a democracy and wealth and power had to be shared. The dispute has further strained US-South African relations. The Trump administration has imposed visa restrictions over alleged discrimination against white people and cited South African employment and land policies. Meyer wants Trump’s executive order underpinning the refugee pathway revoked, and says the US should instead assist South Africa in tackling crime. He also urges Afrikaners protesting abroad to work toward solutions within the country.

The article argues that investors seeking greater exposure to artificial intelligence may need to invest more deliberately in China rather than relying on broad emerging-market funds. Andrew Mattock, a portfolio manager at Matthews Asia, says conventional emerging-market products may provide limited exposure to Chinese companies, despite China’s importance to the AI opportunity. He points out that South Korean and Taiwanese companies make up almost half of the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM), while the iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI) does not specifically emphasize AI stocks. Mattock manages the Matthews China Fund (MCHFX), which invests at least 80% of its net assets in stocks of companies located in China. The fund’s largest holdings include Tencent and Alibaba, though it was down 4% for the year as of Friday’s close. The article describes renewed interest in Chinese investments, recalling billionaire investor David Tepper’s September 2024 comments that he had bought more of “everything” related to China. It also presents a caution about volatility: Brendan Ahern of KraneShares suggests using options strategies around China-focused ETFs, such as the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB), to potentially limit downside risk. The ETF shares Tencent and Alibaba as its two largest holdings with the Matthews fund, but was down more than 27% for the year as of Friday’s close. Overall, the article compares ways to gain exposure to Chinese AI-related companies while noting that broad funds may not provide the desired exposure and China-focused investments can experience substantial losses. It offers investors perspectives on targeted funds and options-based risk management rather than presenting a single investment recommendation.

A federal jury in San Diego ordered Apple to pay Taction Technology more than $5.7 billion after finding that Apple infringed claims in two of Taction’s haptics patents. The patents cover vibration-based tactile transducer technology that lets users feel a device respond to their input. Taction argued that Apple’s Taptic Engine, used in iPhones and Apple Watches, incorporated its inventions without a license or authorization. Taction filed the lawsuit in 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, alleging that Apple was “capitalizing on Taction’s innovation and success.” Apple initially obtained dismissal of the case in 2023, but the Federal Circuit later revived it. The jury trial began Sept. 14, and the seven jurors deliberated for two days before returning a verdict for Taction on Friday. The jury did not find that Apple’s infringement was willful. Apple said it strongly disagreed with both the verdict and the damages, arguing that the award was unsupported by the facts. The company maintained that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology and said Taction’s own testing of Apple products during the trial confirmed that distinction. Apple said it would appeal and denied using Taction’s technology. Taction welcomed the verdict. Its lead counsel, Lance Yang of Quinn Emanuel, said the jury had vindicated the company’s patent rights and noted that Taction had waited five and a half years for the case to reach trial. The ruling represents a major damages award in a dispute over the technology behind tactile feedback in Apple devices, though Apple’s planned appeal means the legal fight may continue.

Audemars Piguet CEO Ilaria Resta says the Swiss watchmaker has set sales and engagement records every month since launching Royal Pop, a colorful $400 collaboration with Swatch in May. The unconventional product drew intense social-media attention and brought younger consumers into contact with mechanical watchmaking. It also provoked debate over whether an accessible collaboration could damage the prestige of a brand whose rare watches often cost tens of thousands of dollars. Resta says the launch instead introduced a wider audience to the company and its products, while even established collectors expressed interest. The strategy comes as the Swiss watch industry faces declining exports and sales, alongside a concentration of revenue and profits among a few leading brands. Audemars Piguet produces far fewer watches than Rolex, and demand for its sought-after Royal Oak models contributes to long waits and resale prices above retail. Resta argues that brands must move beyond traditional, elitist marketing. The company’s “radical openness” approach includes AP Labs, educational pop-ups where visitors learn about watchmaking; Royal Pop proceeds are being donated to watchmaker training and education. Audemars Piguet, which is privately and family-owned and does not disclose financial results, reported 10% organic sales growth in 2025, according to Resta, who expects 2026 to exceed that. The company is also contending with U.S. tariffs, higher material costs, and a stronger Swiss franc. Swiss watch exports to the U.S. fell sharply in August, even as global exports rose. Resta says Audemars Piguet has not passed tariff costs on to customers and is limiting price increases, prioritizing client relationships over short-term profits. The company is also investing in a service center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The article notes a potential source of demand in technology-sector wealth, as some Silicon Valley executives and founders are drawn to mechanical watches and other experiences seen as distinct from technology.

Chinese AI models have gained substantial adoption in 2026, moving from a small share of activity to a majority of token use on two developer platforms, OpenRouter and Vercel. OpenRouter data showed Chinese models accounted for 57%–67% of tokens during the week of Sept. 14, compared with 6%–13% in February. Vercel reported that their share rose to 55% in August from 11% in January. The data covers companies across the United States, Europe and OpenRouter’s defined “Global South,” though Vercel did not disclose its geographic breakdown. The article attributes the growth largely to lower prices and improved performance, especially in coding and other agentic tasks. OpenRouter’s Peter Walker said newer Chinese open-source models can now credibly handle advanced agentic uses, while Vercel’s Harpreet Arora said their cost advantage is persuasive once they meet the quality threshold for a particular task. Still, businesses continue to use U.S. frontier models for more complicated work, and those models attract greater overall spending. U.S. companies OpenAI and Anthropic have also recently announced cheaper models. The shift has raised concerns in Washington. Two House committees are investigating the increased use of Chinese models, amid broader efforts to preserve U.S. leadership through restrictions on China’s access to advanced chips. U.S. officials are also concerned about potential remote access to Nvidia chips through overseas data centers and the use of “distillation,” in which new models imitate established ones. Daniel Remler of the Center for a New American Security warned of economic and security risks, including the possibility that adoption could draw countries into a Chinese technology sphere of influence. OpenRouter data suggests uptake is especially strong in the Global South, where more than two-thirds of platform tokens are used on Chinese models. Remler cited Southeast Asia and markets such as Lagos, São Paulo and Jakarta as places where demand for affordable, open models may grow.

President Donald Trump said he approved new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, reversing stricter fuel economy policies established under former President Joe Biden. The Biden-era rules would have required automakers to raise the efficiency of passenger cars and light trucks to roughly 50 miles per gallon by 2031. Those standards were also intended to encourage electric vehicle production and sales in the United States. The final requirements under Trump’s policy have not been publicly detailed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy previously said they would be sharply lower than the Biden-era standards. Trump described the change as a way to reduce the cost of building cars in the United States and lower prices for consumers, claiming families would save thousands on a new vehicle. He also said manufacturers including General Motors, Ford and Stellantis had expressed interest in building vehicles domestically. The change fulfills Trump’s campaign promise to rescind policies that encouraged or incentivized electric vehicles. Less stringent fuel economy requirements could allow automakers to make more pickup trucks and SUVs, which generally have poorer gas mileage but are more profitable than smaller cars. The article notes that weaker standards could also make electric vehicles less attractive to automakers, although some companies, including General Motors, have said they will continue producing them. The article does not specify the final standards, so their precise effects remain uncertain.

Paramount CEO David Ellison’s settlement with state attorneys general over antitrust concerns sets minimum theatrical-release commitments for the combined Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery company. It must release at least 30 films annually in 2027 and 2028, then at least 32 annually from 2029 through 2031. The agreement also requires a minimum number of wide releases—films shown in more than 2,000 theaters—and films with budgets above $50 million, with penalties of $30 million per film for missed annual quotas. Most of that penalty would go to film workers. The commitments have reassured some theater owners and helped win support from Cinema United, which had opposed the merger. Executives at major chains had also endorsed Ellison’s theatrical pledge. However, some independent and smaller exhibitors remain wary. They fear consolidation could mean fewer studios, weaker competition, less bargaining power over rental fees and release windows, and fewer films after the five-year agreement expires. They also question whether Paramount can sustain a high output amid rising production and marketing costs and the combined company’s projected debt of about $79 billion. Industry observers stress that release counts alone do not guarantee success: films must attract audiences, offer variety, and arrive at a workable cadence. A crowded calendar could cause the merged studios to compete with themselves for ticket sales, release dates, and premium-format screens. The companies may need to reschedule overlapping titles; the 2027 slate currently includes multiple clashes and nine horror films. Upcoming releases include franchises such as Sonic, Godzilla, Minecraft, A Quiet Place, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Lord of the Rings, The Conjuring, and DC films. The article notes that the settlement is viewed by some as a meaningful win for theatrical exhibition, while questions remain about film quality, scheduling, and what happens when the commitments expire.

Natural diamond prices have fallen sharply, with the average one-carat stone dropping 51% from $8,007 in 2021 to $3,898. The Diamond Standard Index also reached its lowest level on record in August. The decline reflects several pressures: excess mined-diamond inventory built up after high production during the Covid period, weaker sales, and rapidly growing competition from lab-grown diamonds. Lab-grown stones have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds but cost substantially less. Comparable lab-grown stones may sell for hundreds of dollars, while natural versions can cost several thousand; in some cases, the lab-grown option is priced up to 90% lower. More consumers are choosing them for engagement and fashion jewelry: lab-grown center stones accounted for 61% of engagement-ring sales in 2025, and the market is projected to expand considerably by 2034. The natural diamond industry is responding by reducing supply. De Beers plans to pause production at its Venetia mine for more than two years, and other mines have announced permanent closures. A Diamond Standard executive said some wholesale prices are beginning to appreciate, though it remains uncertain whether these steps will reverse the broader decline. The article also considers ways to invest in the lab-grown trend through jewelry companies rather than buying stones. Signet Jewelers, Brilliant Earth, and Pandora are cited as companies with exposure to lab-grown products. Analysts say lab-grown jewelry can support higher average retail prices, and industry data indicates its gross margins may exceed those on natural diamonds. However, diamonds themselves are difficult investments: there is no standardized spot market, stones are hard to compare, resale can be slow, and secondary-market prices are often far below retail. A jeweler advises consumers not to buy diamonds expecting financial returns.

The available France 24 page identifies a report about the effects of flooding in Nepal one month after the disaster. Its headline says that thousands of people remain missing and that families face a long recovery. The short description repeats this central point, framing the story around both the continuing search for missing people and the difficulties families will endure after the immediate emergency. The page lists “Nepal floods” and “Tibet” as keywords, but the supplied content does not explain the floods’ location, scale, causes, response efforts, or impact in further detail. It also contains no quotations, statistics beyond the headline’s reference to thousands missing, or information about specific families or officials. Although the page is dated 26 September 2026, the article body itself is unavailable: after the headline and one-sentence description, the page displays a notice saying the requested content does not exist or is no longer available. Accordingly, this summary is limited to the information visible in the supplied page text. The headline and description present the event as an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with unresolved missing-person cases and a prolonged recovery ahead for affected families. Further details about the disaster or the recovery process cannot be verified from the provided material.

The available France 24 page is titled “France’s baptism boom as more young people seek Catholic community.” Its headline presents a reported rise in young people seeking baptism in France and links that trend to a desire for Catholic community. The page credits Charlotte Lam with further reporting and is marked as a France story, issued on 26 September 2026. However, the supplied page text does not include the video transcript or the article’s substantive reporting: after a short notice about the video, it displays related headlines and ultimately a “Page not found” message. Consequently, the source does not establish how many people are being baptized, how the figures compare with previous years, what ages are involved, or what reasons young people themselves give for seeking baptism. It also provides no interviews, expert commentary, church statistics, or regional detail. The headline indicates the subject and a possible explanation—seeking community—but the available text is insufficient to verify or elaborate on that explanation. The related links concern Pope Leo XIV’s visit and large Masses in Paris; those are separate items and do not supply evidence about the baptism story. This summary therefore reports only what can be gleaned from the headline and page metadata, rather than filling in missing details.

The supplied France 24 page identifies a report about an art centre established in the occupied West Bank to help children process their experiences of war. The brief description presents the centre as a response to the effects of conflict on children and frames art as a means of supporting them. The page labels the story as Middle East coverage and gives its issue date as 26 September 2026, with a modification time one minute later. The provided material does not include the report’s full text, interviews, or video transcript. It therefore does not say where in the West Bank the centre is located, who established or operates it, what activities children take part in, or how the centre’s impact is assessed. The page also contains a video-player notice and a collection of unrelated headlines, but those do not add details about this report. As a result, the article’s central point can be summarized only at a high level: an art centre has been set up in the West Bank to help children work through wartime experiences. Further claims about the children, the programme, or the surrounding events cannot be verified from the supplied text.

The available page identifies a France 24 report titled “Middle East: Palestinians plan first local elections in 20 years,” issued on 26 September 2026. The headline indicates that Palestinians are planning local elections, described as the first such elections in 20 years. However, the supplied page capture does not contain the report’s article text or a transcript of its video, so it does not provide details about the proposed election date, locations, participants, political context, or obstacles. The page notes that the video player may be blocked by browser settings or tracking preferences, but that notice is website interface text rather than substantive reporting. It identifies Oliver McTernan, described as director and co-founder of Foward Thinking in London, as a guest; the capture does not explain his comments or establish the specific role he plays in the report. A Reuters cover image is credited to Ammar Awad. The remaining visible material consists largely of navigation, related-story headlines, and a “Page not found” notice, none of which supplies further information about the election plans. Consequently, the headline supports only a limited account: the report concerns Palestinian plans for local elections after a 20-year interval. Any fuller explanation of the proposal, its significance, or the guest’s analysis would require access to the original video or a complete article transcript. This summary therefore distinguishes the limited facts visible in the supplied text from information that is unavailable, rather than filling gaps with assumptions.

The France 24 video report, issued on 26 September 2026, says that South Sudan’s already severe hunger crisis is becoming more critical. Citing the United Nations, the report identifies several overlapping pressures: violence, extreme weather, and dwindling humanitarian aid. Together, these conditions are leaving millions of people without enough food. The headline specifically links the worsening crisis to a “Super El Niño,” indicating that the climate phenomenon is a central focus of the report, although the supplied page text does not explain its expected effects, timing, or geographic reach in detail. The available text is a brief description of a 1 minute 29 second video, not a full transcript or article. It provides no named UN officials, specific regions within South Sudan, food-security figures, or details about aid operations. The page also indicates that its video player may require advertisement tracking and audience measurement to be enabled, and states that the requested content is unavailable; therefore, the video’s full reporting cannot be verified from the supplied material. The report’s central message is that the convergence of conflict, extreme weather associated with El Niño, and reduced assistance is worsening food insecurity for millions in South Sudan. Its framing is serious and cautionary, emphasizing the scale and urgency of the humanitarian problem without offering further data or proposed remedies in the text provided.

The France 24 sports report covers several international sporting stories. Its lead item is Zinédine Zidane’s first match in charge of France, in which Les Bleus won 1-0 away in Turkey. Kylian Mbappé scored the match’s only goal in the second half, but the France captain was injured soon afterward and is expected to miss the team’s next three Nations League fixtures. The report also describes the Premier League’s finding against Manchester City. The club was found guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations brought by the league. Manchester City denies the charges, and the possible sanctions could include exclusion from the league. In tennis, Team Europe leads Team World 3-1 after the opening day of the Laver Cup in London. The report highlights a Friday evening doubles win by Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensík, which extended Europe’s advantage as the hosts seek to make up for their 15-9 overall defeat the previous year. Finally, France qualified for the European Volleyball Championship by beating Finland in four sets. Les Bleus are due to face Poland on Saturday for the title. Overall, the item is a concise roundup of results, a player injury, a major football disciplinary case, and upcoming competition, rather than an in-depth analysis of any one event.

Europe is expanding data-center capacity to keep more data within the continent and strengthen its digital sovereignty, but the growth is raising concerns about pressure on electricity grids, water supplies, and local communities. Data centers require water for cooling and large amounts of electricity; these demands are particularly contentious after a record-hot European summer in which water use was restricted in some places. Finland’s grid operator has forecast that electricity consumption could rise by nearly 40% if all projects with signed connection agreements are completed. In response to concerns about resource use, the European Commission has announced a transparency scheme: facilities larger than 500 kW will receive efficiency grades that consider factors such as energy and water consumption and whether they contribute to the grid, including by reusing waste heat. Data-center construction has historically concentrated around well-connected hubs such as Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin. Constraints on power and grid infrastructure are pushing developers toward other cities and rural areas, where projects have prompted protests and political opposition. Examples include demonstrations against Google’s planned facility near Linz, Sally Rooney’s successful campaign against a proposed center in Killala, Ireland, and local officials resigning over a Google project in Etrechet, France, whose power needs could equal the output of a nuclear plant. Operators say that improved designs and connections to local energy systems can reduce the burden. A facility under construction in Marseille is expected to use a cooling system that consumes no water and requires less power, while some Scandinavian centers supply server waste heat to district heating networks. A German survey found that many people are more open to nearby data centers if they provide waste heat for heating. Operators also say backup batteries could support local grids during outages or peak demand. The article presents a tension: data centers may help Europe achieve digital and energy independence, but their expansion depends on addressing environmental costs and securing public acceptance.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has selected Munich as Germany’s candidate to bid for at least one of the next three Summer Olympic Games. The decision followed a contest between Munich and a bid led by Cologne for the Rhine-Ruhr region; Berlin had withdrawn from the race earlier in the week. Before the vote, Sports Minister Ronald Rauhe said the choice should be based on which city or region offers Germany the strongest international chances. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier described an Olympic bid as an opportunity for the whole country to present itself as a “land of opportunity.” Munich’s proposal would stage all events in Bavaria except football, which would be held in Stuttgart, and sailing, planned for Kiel. Munich has previously hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics and had unsuccessful bids for the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games. The Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr proposal had highlighted the possibility of selling as many as 17.6 million tickets, which North Rhine-Westphalia’s premier said would exceed any previous Games. Berlin’s withdrawal followed the Left Party’s victory in the city’s elections. Elif Eralp, the party’s lead candidate and a potential mayor, opposed Berlin’s bid. Rauhe also expressed support for targeting the 2040 Games, which would coincide with the 50th anniversary of German reunification. He said that date held personal significance because he grew up in Berlin and experienced the reunification period. However, he stressed that the priority was bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Germany, regardless of the year. The article reports the choice of bid city and outlines the competing proposals, political context, and Rauhe’s preference for a historically meaningful possible Games date.

South Korean women face a widening gender pay gap as they age, with government wage data cited in a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report showing that women earn 8% less than male peers at age 27 and 50% less by their late 50s. South Korea has had the largest gender pay gap among OECD countries since comparable records began in 1992. HRW interviewed 41 women aged 28 to 87 for its report, “Too Old and a Woman,” which traces how discrimination, caregiving responsibilities and career interruptions compound over a lifetime. Although women have surpassed men in university attainment since the 1980s, they earn 22% less just one year after graduation. Women who leave paid work for marriage or children often find that their return options are limited to lower-paid jobs such as cleaning, care work and call-center work. Those who remain in their careers can encounter a glass ceiling: women held 18% of manager positions in 2024, while only five of 38 senior civil servants were women. Women’s wages tend to peak in their late 30s and then decline, as time out of work, occupational segregation and workplace discrimination reduce earnings and stability. The article illustrates these trends with the experience of J. Mi-sook, whose prior experience was not recognized by a new employer, and Park Jae-soon, whose annual income fell 72% after mandatory retirement at 60. Older women also receive much smaller pensions: in October 2025, women received an average of 53% of men’s National Old Age Pension. Activist Min Hee Kim argues that work traditionally performed by women at home is undervalued when it enters the labor market, and that care should be treated as a public responsibility. HRW calls for abolishing mandatory retirement and the peak-wage system, alongside equal pay enforcement and transparent wage structures. Kim cautions that the report’s Seoul-centered interviews do not fully represent disabled women, migrant workers and other groups whose experiences may differ.

The article describes a sharp increase in Russian drone incursions, sabotage concerns and other security incidents affecting countries near Ukraine, arguing that what was once often characterized as abstract “hybrid warfare” is now being treated by some European governments as a deliberate and immediate threat. Drone overflights have become frequent in parts of central and southeastern Europe, with crashes and explosions, airport disruptions and airspace closures adding to concern. Moldova recently reported four drones entering its airspace, including two that exploded on its territory; Romania also reported two incursions, one ending in a crash near Solca. NATO aircraft were scrambled in response to attacks near the region. Poland has faced repeated NATO fighter-jet deployments, the evacuation of two border crossings after a fire at a Starlink ground station, and a brief airspace violation by a Russian Mi-8 helicopter. Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia seeks not only to exhaust Ukraine by attacking its industrial and energy infrastructure, but also to wear down Europe. He said Poland must prepare for escalating pressure and raised the possibility that the station fire was deliberate. Moldova’s President Maia Sandu likewise emphasized that Russia’s war threatens all of Europe. Romanian officials offered a more restrained response to the latest drone crash, although the defense minister noted technical features suggesting a newer Russian jet-powered model. President Nicusor Dan cited repeated airspace violations and reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to Ukraine. The article also reports unconfirmed claims, published by Spanish newspaper El Mundo, that a CIA assessment warned of possible Russian drone attacks on Italy, France and Spain launched from vessels in the Mediterranean. France’s President Emmanuel Macron said France had not received such a warning, but considered the possibility of an attack plausible. At a meeting in Denmark, officials warned that Russia was expected to intensify its hybrid campaign against the West and NATO in the coming months; Denmark’s defense minister called the situation the most serious since the Cold War ended.

The article reports that Russian schools are increasingly incorporating patriotic messaging into lessons, including through a textbook distributed to some schools in Novosibirsk. According to students interviewed anonymously by DW, the book presents dying for Russia as a noble sacrifice, depicts Western countries as morally corrupt, and makes claims linking homosexuality with pedophilia and Disney cartoons with pornography. It praises Russia’s treatment of its many peoples while omitting Indigenous cultures and religions beyond Christianity and Slavic paganism. Although the textbook is not on the national list of core curriculum books, its themes reflect the Kremlin’s broader push to promote patriotic narratives in education since 2022. Two 16-year-old students, identified by changed names as Ilya and Alexei, reject the message that dying for the country is an honor. Ilya sees it as a demand for “more cannon fodder” in a war fought for the president’s ambitions. Both describe how restrictions on platforms such as YouTube and Discord, and their subsequent efforts to find independent information, helped spur their interest in politics and opposition to the government. They also recount patriotic school activities, comparisons between Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Soviet victory in World War II, and pressure on students to avoid foreign-language slogans. The students say many classmates laugh at or ignore the propaganda, while some avoid patriotic events. Educator Dima Zicer, now living in Estonia, says some young people embrace pro-Putin attitudes and repeat claims about Nazis and fascists in Ukraine. He acknowledges that his assessment is based on professional experience and conversations, not statistical data. Ilya and Alexei, who want the war to end, are concerned about Russia’s instability and hope to leave after graduation.

Sidya Toure, Guinea’s former prime minister and a prominent opposition leader, has died in Paris at the age of 81, according to sources close to his family who spoke to AFP. He had been hospitalized at the American Hospital of Paris for about two weeks after becoming ill in Abidjan. Toure had lived in Ivory Coast since leaving Guinea after the September 2021 military coup that brought Mamady Doumbouya to power. Toure led the Union of Republican Forces (UFR), one of Guinea’s major opposition parties, from exile. The party was among 40 dissolved in March during a crackdown on civil liberties. Doumbouya was elected president in December in a vote that excluded significant opposition parties, including the UFR, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), and the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG). UFDG leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, also living in exile, described Toure as a friend and fellow participant in the struggle for a democratic and prosperous Guinea. Toure served as prime minister from July 1996 to March 1999 under President Lansana Conte. His tenure featured administrative and economic reforms and efforts to strengthen ties with international financial institutions. He became head of the UFR in 2000 and went on to oppose Conte and later governments. He ran for president in 2010 and 2015 but was unsuccessful. Born in Ivory Coast in 1945, Toure also worked in that country’s economic and financial administration. Former president Alpha Conde expressed regret that Toure had experienced exile late in life, while current Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah remembered him as a pragmatic reformer and a prominent figure in Guinea’s political life for three decades.

One year after youth-led demonstrations helped drive President Andry Rajoelina from power, Madagascar’s Gen Z activists say the military-led government that replaced him has betrayed the movement’s hopes. The protests began amid chronic shortages of water and electricity and intensified in October when soldiers from the Capsat unit joined demonstrators. Rajoelina fled, and Capsat commander Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as interim leader. The unrest had claimed at least 22 lives, including during a government crackdown. Activists initially welcomed the change, but say promised reforms have yielded only limited improvements. In April, authorities arrested Herizo Andriamanantena and five other activists after they called a march over the slow pace of reform. Herizo said he was detained for 13 days on a state-security charge and described being held in a crowded cell. Another activist, Nomena Ratsihorimanana, reported being assaulted and threatened during his arrest; both men lost their jobs. Lawyer Maromanana Aliarivelo said the state-security charge has long been used by those in power to silence critics. Other organizers describe the outcome as a betrayal, noting that their protests helped bring the new authorities to power. The movement was diverse, largely urban and educated, and coordinated in part through a Facebook page called “Gen Z Madagascar,” which had about 200,000 followers before it was hacked and deleted. Its name referenced youth-led protests in Nepal, though some Malagasy participants were outside the commonly cited Gen Z birth-year range. The movement has since splintered. One faction supports Randrianirina, who has promised elections by the end of next year, while others distrust official anniversary events. Planned commemorations in Antananarivo include a monument unveiling, a march and an address by the military leader. Activists question whether these ceremonies will honor the protest movement or be used to legitimize the authorities.

Torrential rain overnight Friday caused severe flooding in several towns in western Libya, disrupting basic services and leaving residents in immediate danger. The flooding cut electricity and running water, while torrents of mud and overflowing waterways trapped people and swept vehicles away. Videos and photographs shared on social media showed people caught in vehicles or attempting to escape the mudflows. Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah ordered authorities to mobilise resources in affected areas and ensure a rapid response. He also directed officials to clear roads and restore electricity, drinking water and telecommunications, and said he was closely monitoring the situation. The effects were particularly visible in Mizda, a town of fewer than 30,000 people in a semi-desert area south of Tripoli, where heavy rain is uncommon. Municipal spokesman Omar Kachaka said numerous fallen electricity poles caused a widespread power outage, alongside other damage and landslides. In the Bani Walid area, around 170 kilometres south of Tripoli, rescue teams worked to free residents trapped in vehicles carried away by mudflows. Ahmed al-Sid, mayor of Nasmah, about 150 kilometres south of Tripoli, declared the municipality a disaster zone, citing extensive damage from the rain and overflowing wadis. Libyan authorities had not confirmed any deaths at the time of the report. The article describes a serious emergency involving flooding, infrastructure disruption and rescue operations, while noting that the full human toll remained unknown.

Thousands of people marched in Madrid on Saturday, walking from Cibeles Square to the Moncloa Arch near the Spanish government headquarters. They called for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to resign over his handling of the Ceuta migration crisis and demanded new elections. The demonstration came after a mass border crossing made Ceuta the center of what the article describes as Spain’s worst border crisis in living memory. Ceuta, a small Spanish territory on the North African coast, usually marks its September 2 official holiday with little attention from mainland Spain. This year, however, the territory was still dealing with the consequences of a sudden influx that began in late July. About 72,000 people reportedly swam, scrambled, or charged across from neighboring Morocco. At least 90 people died trying to reach Europe. Most migrants soon returned or were sent back over the border, but the national government said that weeks later about 5,000 remained in Ceuta, including 1,200 minors. Ceuta’s local government gave a higher estimate. The circumstances behind the mass crossing remain disputed or unclear: the national government said an online social-media campaign had fueled it, while local authorities accused Spain’s central government of ignoring warning signs before the border was breached. The arrivals placed significant pressure on resources in Ceuta, whose population is about 84,000, and angered many residents. The Madrid protesters’ demands reflect broader political criticism of the government’s response to the crisis, while the differing figures and unresolved questions underscore the continuing tensions surrounding the events.

At the United Nations General Assembly, Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng criticized U.S. actions without naming the United States directly. He said countries in the Middle East, including those in the Gulf, have sovereignty and security interests that should be respected. Han also called on the “relevant country” to stop threatening Cuba and lift its blockade and sanctions. His remarks contrasted with the warm public display between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s Washington visit earlier in the week, when the leaders discussed trade and artificial intelligence. Han’s comments came amid heightened tensions involving Iran and Cuba. The U.S. war on Iran began with U.S.-Israeli strikes in February. Trump had warned Xi against supporting Iran, and the U.S. ambassador to China said Xi assured Trump that China would not do so. Those assurances followed reports that Beijing had supplied Iran with shoulder-fired air-defence launchers and that China had helped Tehran evade sanctions on oil sales. Han’s remarks on Cuba addressed a U.S. pressure campaign that has restricted oil supplies to the island. Cuba’s electrical grid recently collapsed, leaving millions without power. The article links the worsening blackouts to fuel shortages and aging infrastructure, compounded by a U.S. oil blockade that began in January. The Trump administration has said its goal is to change Cuba’s government, although Trump predicted that the two countries would reach an agreement and said he did not expect military action to be necessary. Han also presented China as a dependable international partner and defender of developing countries. He argued that countries, regardless of size, are equal members of the international community and that global affairs should be managed through consultation. Overall, the speech underscored a gap between public warmth in U.S.-China diplomacy and disagreements over Iran, Cuba, sanctions, and sovereignty.

The article reports on deported Mexican mothers in Tijuana who are risking dangerous, costly attempts to cross back into the United States to reunite with children and partners. Maria, whose full name is withheld, describes an attempt near Tecate in June. Smugglers helped her group form a human ladder against the border wall, but U.S. Border Patrol vehicles arrived as she climbed. She fell back onto the Mexican side and fled with the others. Her husband arranged the attempt, and Maria says they now owe money. She had previously lived in the U.S. undocumented and says she has crossed irregularly before. Dina Ramos, a mother of six U.S.-born children, was caught by U.S. authorities on Sept. 13 while trying to cross. She had returned to Mexico in July to visit her ailing parents. Ramos says separation from her children is painful and that she intends to seek another way back. Advocates at Tijuana shelters describe deported mothers’ desperation and the border as a place of pain and separation. Shelter director Raul Ochoa says smugglers, known as coyotes, charge roughly US$15,000 to US$25,000. Less expensive arrangements may involve remote crossing points, while more expensive ones may promise passage through a port of entry. Even with money, success is unlikely amid heightened security. U.S. border apprehensions in the San Diego Sector have fallen sharply: more than 10,000 people were intercepted since the previous October, compared with about 320,000 from October 2023 to September 2024. U.S. agencies also reported a decline of more than 90 per cent in apprehensions along the border since December 2023. Immigration lawyer Soraya Vazquez says deportees, particularly mothers separated from their children, continue to risk returning because they yearn to be with their families. The supplied article ends while describing Maria’s return to Mexico after learning that her eldest son had suffered a heart attack.

The White House says President Donald Trump is cancelling nearly US$1 billion in spending that Congress had approved, using a procedure known as a “pocket rescission.” The cuts primarily affect services for immigrants, including organizations that assist refugees and unaccompanied minors, as well as programs for migrant students, minority entrepreneurs, housing counselling, racial-tension reduction, and some Health and Human Services grants. The administration argues that reduced illegal border crossings mean some services are no longer needed and characterizes other targeted programs as harmful or ideological. The move has drawn criticism from both parties. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the cuts came without warning or consultation and unlawfully take over Congress’s authority to decide how public funds are spent. The Government Accountability Office has also said the pocket-rescission manoeuvre is illegal. Under federal law, Congress has 45 days to consider proposed cuts, but Trump announced them with only five days left in the fiscal year and while the House was out of session, leaving little practical time for review. The article places the action in the context of Trump’s previous use of the tactic to block US$4.9 billion in foreign aid and a broader struggle over the limits of presidential power. The administration maintains that pocket rescissions are legally permissible, while critics say they undermine Congress’s constitutional spending authority. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray called the cuts “theft from the American people” and urged Congress to reassert its role. The announced reductions also include US$70 million for international education programs, US$28 million in health research grants, US$9 million in foreign debt relief linked to climate policies, and US$10 million for minority business development.

CBC examines Swan Song: Diana, my sister, a book by Charles Spencer, Diana’s younger brother, and considers whether it can offer a definitive account of the late princess. Spencer says he intends to tell what he remembers “once and for all,” but the article argues that the book is more likely to extend debate about Diana’s life and legacy than settle it. Its most controversial claims include that King Charles said Diana would soon be forgotten, that Diana told Spencer Charles had said he did not love her before their wedding, and that Queen Elizabeth offered to restore Diana’s HRH title after her death. Buckingham Palace issued an unusually pointed response to the first claim, suggesting grief can affect memory; the palace’s comment prompted comparisons with the Queen’s earlier “recollections may vary” remark. The article finds the book most revealing in its accounts of Diana’s childhood and early relationship with Spencer: her orderly room, affection for flowers and toys, and their moments of conflict. Spencer’s detail diminishes as their lives diverge, and he acknowledges that family members sometimes fell out with Diana. His memories become vivid again in describing Althorp, where Diana’s “happy spot” was the Round Oval, and the period after her death. The book’s chapters draw on Spencer’s funeral eulogy and his promise that Diana’s family would protect William and Harry and carry forward her legacy. Ultimately, the review notes that the book’s structure jumps between times and places, and that its detours into Spencer’s life and grievances with the media complicate the portrait he wants to present. The article concludes that no account can fully resolve what Diana thought or felt, leaving readers to weigh conflicting recollections and interpretations for themselves.

Hurricane Polo regained Category 5 strength as it moved off Mexico’s southwestern Pacific coast, with maximum sustained winds reaching 180 mph—well above the 157-mph threshold for that category. By Saturday morning, winds had eased to around 160 mph, though the storm remained extremely powerful. Polo underwent exceptional rapid intensification between Monday and Tuesday, with winds rising from 45 mph to 150 mph in roughly a day. The National Hurricane Center called the transformation “truly remarkable.” Polo became the second-strongest hurricane on record in the Eastern Pacific by central pressure, behind Hurricane Patricia in 2015; its peak winds tied Hurricane Rick’s 2009 mark as the region’s third-highest on record. The storm was about 425 miles west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, and moving west-northwest at 10 mph. The article’s opening says Polo is expected to make landfall in California’s Big Sur, but its detailed forecast later says it is expected to approach Baja California Sur on Monday. The State Department, citing forecast models, said Polo should weaken to Category 1 before landfall in northern Baja California Sur, then continue northeast into southern Sonora. The hurricane center cautioned it would remain a powerful hurricane as it approached land. Polo could bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, with locally higher totals of up to 10 inches, threatening life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. Swells could also cause dangerous surf, rip currents and coastal flooding along parts of Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula. Mexican authorities ordered evacuations, opened shelters and deployed military troops. Schools were suspended in Acapulco and coastal municipalities in Michoacán, while officials coordinated preparations. Elsewhere in the Pacific, Hurricane Nolo was heading toward Hawaii’s Big Island, with forecasters warning of potentially catastrophic flooding. The article attributes unusually high Pacific cyclone activity to strong El Niño conditions, warmer waters, moist air and reduced wind shear.

The article recounts the first CIA operations in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks and the people and aircraft involved. On September 26, 2001, the seven-member JAWBREAKER team flew into the Panjshir Valley aboard a Soviet-designed Mi-17 helicopter, carrying millions of dollars to recruit and equip Afghan allies. Their work was intended to gather intelligence and prepare for the U.S. campaign against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, while strengthening ties with the Northern Alliance after the assassination of its military leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud. The CIA had acquired the Mi-17 because it could blend in among aircraft used by both the Northern Alliance and Taliban, and because it could cross the high Anjuman Pass. Its crew marked the aircraft with “USA” and an American flag for recognition by friendly aircraft, and gave it the call sign “9-11-01.” The helicopter later flew more than 300 missions and is now displayed at CIA headquarters after restoration. Former CIA officer David Tyson describes joining Team Alpha and entering northern Afghanistan on October 17 to work with forces led by Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum. The team traveled on horseback and helped prosecute the campaign against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In November, Tyson and fellow officer Mike Spann went to Qala-i-Jangi fortress to question surrendered foreign fighters, including John Walker Lindh. A prisoner uprising erupted; Spann was killed, becoming the first American to die in combat in Afghanistan. Tyson survived and kept using Spann’s rifle for the rest of his deployment. The rifle and Tyson’s boots are now preserved at the CIA Museum. The article also describes the Mi-17’s restoration and Tyson’s continuing remembrance of Spann. Tyson and Spann’s widow, Shannon Spann DeBruyn, are involved with Badger Six, a nonprofit supporting Afghan fighters who worked with Team Alpha and their families.

The U.S. Army Reserve is assessing whether it could provide U.S. Southern Command with police, medical, logistics and engineering units within 90 to 120 days, according to an internal message reviewed by CBS News. The request is part of ongoing planning related to Cuba, U.S. officials said, though the document does not mention Cuba, specify the number or destination of troops, or indicate that deployment orders have been issued. The Army Reserve asked subordinate commands to report on the possible availability of six types of formations by September 25. The Army Reserve did not respond to CBS News; Southern Command declined to discuss operational details. The planning occurs as the Trump administration increases economic and political pressure on Cuba. President Trump has said he expects the two countries to reach a deal and that he does not believe military action will be needed, while also calling for political change and predicting Cuba’s communist government will fall. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly in negotiations with Havana. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has described U.S. actions as aggression and economic warfare and vowed to resist an attack. The report places the latest planning in the context of earlier U.S. military preparations and intelligence assessments, including reconnaissance near Cuba, heightened readiness that did not lead to deployment, and prior examinations of possible military options. It also describes the administration’s broader effort to expand U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere, including operations with Ecuador and military strikes against suspected criminal targets. Those strikes have drawn criticism from some legal experts, who say they may amount to unlawful extrajudicial killings. The article emphasizes that planning and briefings do not establish that the president or Pentagon has decided to take military action.

Four months into an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed more than 3,600 people since emerging in mid-May, the country’s government says the epidemic may be easing. Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, director general of Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research and a veteran of the team that first discovered Ebola in 1976, says cases peaked in mid-August. After visiting the outbreak’s epicenter in Ituri, he described seeing no hearses or ambulances and said management of the epidemic had clearly improved. He views these observations as grounds for hope that the outbreak is coming under control. However, health officials and aid organizations caution that the evidence does not yet support that conclusion. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, says the decline in cases is slight and may not represent a sustained downward trend. He also points to serious weaknesses in contact tracing. Because many new cases cannot be connected to known contacts, health workers may be missing chains of transmission, suggesting the virus continues to spread undetected. The outbreak remains especially difficult to contain in areas affected by armed conflict and widespread poverty, where people already face significant hardships. Doctors Without Borders has publicly warned against declaring the outbreak controlled. The disease has also reached a new province in western Congo, more than 700 miles from its epicenter in Ituri. The article presents a sharp disagreement between government optimism and the concerns of experts working on the response: while some indicators may be improving in the hardest-hit areas, the outbreak’s geographic spread and weak contact tracing mean the crisis remains urgent and its trajectory uncertain.

Fiji is experiencing what public health specialist Jason Mitchell describes as the world’s fastest-growing HIV epidemic. Cases increased twelvefold from 2010 to 2025, and the government declared a national emergency in September. An estimated 9,100 to 12,000 people may have HIV, though only 5,676 cases have been diagnosed. Many of those infected are young adults, and rising crystal meth use—particularly injecting the drug—is a major factor in the outbreak. Experts link the surge in meth use since COVID-19 to unemployment, mental-health challenges, and drugs remaining in Fiji after border restrictions disrupted their transit to other countries. HIV spreads when people share needles, and some use “bluetoothing,” in which one person injects another person’s blood after using meth. Scarce clean needles and a culture of communal sharing may contribute to the practice. Sexual transmission also accounts for a substantial share of new infections, with low condom use increasing risk. The article describes efforts to contain the epidemic, including Australian funding for HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. Fiji is working to test pregnant women and provide antiretroviral medication to prevent transmission to babies. However, reaching people remains difficult: many live in poverty or have unstable housing, some cannot be contacted, and treatment and prevention drugs are underused despite being available. Only three dedicated clinical centers serve the country, whose population is spread across more than 100 islands. Activists and health professionals say limited awareness and the distance to care discourage people from seeking medication. The article presents the crisis as urgent but notes that effective interventions must reach vulnerable communities to prevent further transmission.

The article introduces Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong who are returning to higher education after putting their ambitions on hold for family responsibilities. Dyan Agonoy left university, married young and started a family before moving from the Philippines to work as a domestic helper. She says working abroad has meant missing important moments in her children’s lives and family celebrations, and being absent from photographs. Without the bachelor’s degree required for many jobs, domestic work became an option for her. Gelanie Aguilario’s experience is similar. She made two attempts to complete a bachelor’s degree: first in political science, with the goal of becoming a lawyer, and later in education. Pregnancy and family obligations interrupted both efforts. The article’s headline and introduction frame these women’s renewed education as a chance to pursue goals they had postponed, while continuing to work. It says a Hong Kong non-profit, FullPhils, supports domestic helpers in earning degrees. The available text does not provide further details about the programme, the women’s current studies, or the qualifications they are pursuing. Overall, the excerpt highlights the personal sacrifices associated with migration and caregiving, as well as the possibility of resuming education later in life.

The article describes Pakistan’s prolonged struggle to contain militant violence in its western border regions. For more than two decades, the country has conducted repeated counterterrorism campaigns against Taliban and Baloch insurgents in areas bordering Afghanistan and Iran. Despite these operations, violence continues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where soldiers, police officers and civilians are killed regularly. Militants attack security forces, government officials and other prominent figures in an effort to weaken the state’s authority and credibility. Their tactics range from roadside bombs and explosive-laden drones to ambushes, suicide attacks, raids, assassinations and kidnappings. Pakistan’s military frequently presents its operations as successful, announcing that hundreds of militants have been killed in a typical month. The article notes that these official statements can read like scoreboards, emphasizing the number of insurgents killed and describing few as captured alive for questioning. Yet the article’s central framing is that tactical victories and retaliatory strikes have not brought lasting peace or broken the cycle of violence. Its subtitle further signals a concern that two distinct insurgencies may be converging, potentially adding to the difficulty of responding effectively. Overall, the supplied excerpt contrasts the military’s reported operational gains with the persistence of attacks and casualties. It portrays an entrenched conflict in which repeated campaigns have failed to resolve the underlying security crisis. The provided text ends before explaining why the campaigns have been unsuccessful or how the apparent convergence of insurgencies is developing, so those points cannot be detailed from this excerpt alone.

Jane Smith, formerly the chief executive of Family First Credit Union in Saginaw, Michigan, lost her job after sharing an altered family photograph on Facebook. The image showed the family wearing sweaters labeled “Lake America,” a name President Donald Trump directed US federal agencies to use for Lake Ontario. Smith reportedly used ChatGPT to edit the sweaters. She posted the image on 11 September, the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with the caption, “Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will,” followed by “Lol lol.” The post spread widely and drew criticism, particularly from Canadians who considered it disrespectful. Some commenters also noted the timing and the family’s trip to Halifax, a city that hosted thousands of passengers diverted there when US airspace closed on 9/11. Family First initially said it was reviewing the situation. Smith apologized in an interview with Detroit station WJRT, describing the post as poor judgment and saying she understood why it could offend people. She said the family had been poking fun at the name change, not trying to make a political statement, and regretted making anyone feel that they were not valued. The credit union nevertheless announced that Smith was no longer employed, effective immediately, and named Jason Acosta as interim successor. It apologized to members and the community, saying its responsibility was to protect members’ trust and put the community first. The article places the controversy in the wider dispute over Trump’s executive order. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the name Lake Ontario comes from the language of the Indigenous Wendat people and predates both Canada’s Confederation and US independence. Several US governors in the Great Lakes region also rejected the change. The order cannot rename the Canadian portion of the lake or require Canada, international bodies, mapmakers, or others to adopt the new name.

The article examines a series of US operations against Ecuadorian fishing boats, which have raised concerns about the safety and rights of fishers while the Trump administration shows no sign of changing course. In one incident, US forces intercepted the Don Rufo in international waters, detained six crew members, and destroyed the vessel. Ten others who had been fishing in smaller skiffs were left at sea and rescued by the Ecuadorian navy two days later. The US said intelligence indicated that the boat was serving as a refuelling station for drug-running speedboats; the fishers deny the allegation. Similar operations involving Ecuadorian boats followed, with crews reportedly removed before vessels were destroyed. The article describes a change from unilateral US strikes to operations openly backed by Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa. Analysts say Noboa is allowing Ecuador to serve as a proving ground for a more aggressive regional counter-narcotics approach. Ecuador’s role as a major trafficking hub, despite not being a major cocaine producer, and Noboa’s militarized crackdown provide context. The crackdown has not substantially reduced violence and has been accompanied by human rights abuses, including the disappearance and deaths of four boys known as the “Guayaquil Four.” An agreement with Washington authorizes joint operations and gives participating US personnel immunity from criminal prosecution; US troops have also joined raids on land. The operations are part of a broader US effort to build a regional anti-cartel coalition. Although some people are being handed to local authorities rather than killed, critics say the campaign retains dangerous practices. US officials reserve the option to destroy boats, while human rights organizations and a UN special rapporteur have raised the possibility that the airstrikes amount to extrajudicial killings or crimes against humanity. The article also notes that available data show the strikes have not reduced the volume of cocaine entering the US.

The supplied material is only a headline, a byline, and the opening of one sentence; it does not include enough of the Washington Post article to establish its full argument, reporting, or conclusions. The headline frames Pope Leo’s visit to Lourdes as an encounter with both the Catholic Church’s artistic heritage and its serious wrongdoing. The available opening describes the gold-flecked mosaics in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes, France, and says they were installed in 2008 to mark the 150th anniversary of apparitions of the Virgin Mary that the Catholic Church recognizes as miraculous. The excerpt therefore introduces a setting shaped by religious art and Marian devotion, while the headline signals that the article also addresses grave church sins. However, the provided text does not specify which sins are discussed, what Pope Leo said or did, or how the article connects these themes. No further details can be reliably summarized without the missing article text.

The supplied material is only a headline and the opening lines of a Washington Post article, so it does not provide enough information to summarize the full report or explain the evidence behind the charges. The headline says that Fernando Cerimedo, described as MAGA-aligned, faces attempted-murder charges in Bolivia. The excerpt then introduces Nadia Beller, a Bolivian lawyer and political analyst, who is speaking from a hospital bed after surviving three gunshot wounds. Beller says she knows who ordered the attack. The text says she made the statement on camera the previous month, in a shaky voice, and quotes her saying she had summoned DTV to make a live declaration. The excerpt does not identify the alleged person who ordered the shooting, explain the basis for the charges against Cerimedo, or establish the relationship between the shooting and the charges. It also offers no further account of the investigation, the political context, or responses from the people involved. Those details cannot be reliably inferred from the headline and fragment alone. The article’s opening establishes a serious story involving alleged political violence and criminal charges, but the limited supplied text supports only this outline—not a fuller account of events or conclusions.