The Nations

Internet and telephone services were disrupted in Ethiopia’s Tigray region after fighting resumed between regional forces and the national army. The BBC reports that Ethio Telecom services were cut while the smaller Safaricom network remained operational. The disruption threatens access to communications and mobile banking in a region still affected by the earlier civil war.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he asked President Trump to enlist China’s influence over Moscow in efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The appeal comes during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington. It describes a diplomatic request, not an agreement by Beijing to intervene.

An explosion in Athens’ Plaka district near the Acropolis caused a building to collapse Friday morning. Authorities said at least two people were injured and rescued from an adjacent building. The initial report did not establish the cause of the blast.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the US-Iran war is imposing heavy economic costs on Egypt and its neighbors. In an interview with the Washington Times, he urged de-escalation and appealed to President Trump to help end the conflict. The comments highlight regional economic pressure alongside the war’s military and diplomatic consequences.

Aliko Dangote announced support for a fuel pipeline connecting Djibouti’s Damerjog port with a distribution facility in Dewele, Ethiopia. The proposed 120-kilometer line and storage facilities would move petroleum products into landlocked Ethiopia. Officials say the project is intended to shorten delivery times and strengthen fuel supplies.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill called Thursday for Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell to resign by Friday. Her office said an outside investigation substantiated repeated violations of state policy and the responsibilities of his office. The announcement is a demand for his departure, not confirmation that he has resigned.

The Trump administration is seeking Supreme Court relief over restrictions on deporting people to countries other than their homelands. An appeals court ruling requires a meaningful opportunity to raise concerns about persecution or torture in the destination country. The request would reopen a dispute in which the Supreme Court has previously intervened.

Polish authorities say a fire at a Starlink station was an act of sabotage. The government says the site partly supports internet access in neighboring Ukraine. The BBC reports the incident amid renewed European warnings about security threats.

The Taliban says Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan killed four civilians. Pakistan says it struck ten targets and limited its operation to identified military objectives. The competing accounts leave the reported civilian toll disputed.

The California Supreme Court ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to return more than 650,000 ballots seized during an election investigation. The court found that the seizure violated election law. Thursday’s ruling returns control of the ballots to election officials.

Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic war powers measure aimed at ending U.S. participation in the war with Iran. The House had already passed the resolution. Thursday’s vote leaves the effort stalled as the conflict continues.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions in his UN General Assembly address Thursday. Delegates staged a walkout before the speech, and protesters gathered outside. Netanyahu rejected accusations against Israel and criticized those who left.

Federal prosecutors have charged former postal worker Damon Matai Seei with discarding roughly 300 mail-in ballots before Utah’s June primary. The indictment was unsealed Tuesday, according to The Hill. The allegations have not been established by a trial.

The European Union has removed Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, the BBC reports. Both businessmen have close ties to President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine criticized the decision, saying it sent Moscow the wrong message.

Eleven people were killed in a mass shooting at a house in South Africa, the BBC reports. Police said one of those killed was believed to be pregnant. Authorities are investigating the attack.

President Trump and Xi Jinping exchanged cordial remarks at Thursday’s White House state dinner. Xi called for artificial intelligence to remain under human control, but the leaders disclosed little concrete progress on their main disputes. Trade, technology and Taiwan remain central points of tension as the visit concludes.

Hurricane Polo has weakened from Category 5 to Category 4, according to Thursday’s National Hurricane Center reporting. It remains a major hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific coast. Forecasters continue tracking its course and potential effects on land.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that Tehran wants an agreement with the United States before November’s midterms. His remarks counter President Trump’s claim that Iran is waiting until after the election. The statement follows renewed talks at the UN but does not announce a completed deal.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will remain in office after his party suffered defeats in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday. The CDU failed to retain a place in the latter state’s legislature, the Associated Press reports. The results deepen pressure on the chancellor but had not produced a leadership challenge in Monday’s reporting.

President Trump said Sunday that his planned triumphal arch near Washington will incorporate a military complex. He said the revised proposal would accommodate drones and snipers and cited a request from the military. His announcement describes a change to the plans, rather than a completed facility.

U.S. Southern Command says a September 19 strike on a boat in the Caribbean killed four suspected drug traffickers. The command said the vessel was traveling along an established trafficking route. The military’s characterization of those aboard remains an official claim.

North Korea fired two missiles off its east coast on Sunday, Reuters reports. The launches came roughly three hours apart. South Korea convened an emergency security meeting after the initial launch from the Wonsan area.

Russian officials said Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, including hundreds aimed at Moscow. Moscow’s mayor described the barrage as the largest attack on the capital and reported damage to an oil refinery and a residential building. Regional authorities reported two deaths in the wider Moscow region.

The Trump administration has begun border-wall construction in southwest Texas’s Big Bend region. Customs and Border Protection told the Associated Press that installation of 30-foot panels was underway, according to The Hill. Local leaders have opposed the project.

President Trump returned to the White House Saturday evening, a day earlier than planned, according to a White House pool report cited by The Hill. His return coincided with new State Department security warnings amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The available reporting did not establish the reason for the schedule change.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 election-related bills on Saturday ahead of the midterms. The measures include new penalties for seizing ballots or election records and restrictions on certain law-enforcement activity near polling places. Newsom presented the package as protection against potential federal interference.

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh, while Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted the capital. The confirmation follows air alerts and reports of smoke and disruption near the airport on Saturday. The State Department issued a regional security caution as the confrontation intensified.

The White House’s forthcoming state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping will include executives from major American companies. Officials named leaders associated with Amazon, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, Dell and Citigroup, according to the Daily Wire. Their participation underscores the business dimension of the planned diplomatic meeting.

A new United States military estimate puts the cost of the Iran war at $43.6 billion through September 3. The estimate was provided to lawmakers this week, according to the Washington Times. It supplies an updated measure of the conflict’s burden on federal spending.

An attack on a mosque at a police compound in Kohat killed at least 31 people and wounded around 100, according to an updated ABC News report citing police and rescue officials. An explosives-laden vehicle struck the mosque as gunmen attacked the compound. Pakistani forces ended the ensuing standoff on Saturday, while earlier reports had put the death toll at 21.

Cuba’s power grid collapsed on Friday, leaving millions of residents without electricity. The Washington Times reports that this was at least the sixth widespread outage since the United States cut off fuel supplies in January. Persistent fuel shortages have compounded the island’s electricity crisis.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists regained White House access Thursday following a temporary court order. CNN and MS NOW nevertheless reported being turned away from the state dinner’s press arrivals event that evening. The mixed access leaves a continuing dispute over implementation of the order while the broader case proceeds.

President Trump signed legislation imposing a new round of sanctions against Russia amid the war in Ukraine. The law targets the Russian energy sector and authorizes tariffs of up to 100 percent, according to the Washington Examiner. The measure adds an economic pressure tool to Washington’s response to the conflict.

The United States plans to build two military bases in Greenland under a defense agreement signed at the UN General Assembly. The agreement reaffirms Denmark’s sovereignty over the semi-autonomous territory, the BBC reports. The signed deal adds detail to the security arrangement announced earlier.

An investigation into the pork checkoff program finds fees collected from independent hog farmers help fund lobbying that favors large consolidated producers. Missouri farmer Russ Kremer is among those who say the system works against them. Industry groups defend the program as promoting pork broadly.

The United States military said it destroyed another vessel on September 8 that it described as a floating refueling station serving the Los Choneros criminal organization. It is the latest in a series of strikes on boats the administration ties to drug trafficking networks. Critics have questioned the legal basis for the campaign.

Former President George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice will share reflections on the legacy of the September 11 attacks at a Dallas event this week. The gathering comes as the country marks twenty-five years since the attacks. Other former officials are expected to attend.

Karen Whitsett criticized Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Democratic leaders she says take Black voters for granted, pointing to his associations on the party's left. El-Sayed's campaign has defended his record and coalition. The dispute underscores tensions inside Michigan's Democratic primary electorate.

Kent Blacklidge, a federal agent whom officials say was directly involved with child exploitation cases, turned himself in last week on child rape charges. Investigators have not said how long the alleged conduct went undetected. He remains in custody pending further proceedings.

Democratic strategists say the party is converging on affordability, health care and anti-corruption themes as it seeks partial control of Washington. The approach is meant to keep attention on costs rather than on Trump himself. Candidates in swing districts are testing the message in early advertising.

A federal appeals court hears argument Wednesday on whether to reinstate restrictions on mailing mifepristone. The case tests a Biden-era policy that expanded access to the drug by mail. A ruling would affect availability in states where the medication remains legal.

An investigation found grave flaws in the analysis behind a Census report on noncitizen voting that President Trump has cited. Reporters also identified several of the report's unnamed authors. The Census Bureau has not addressed the specific methodological criticisms.

Brent crude passed $100 a barrel on Wednesday after American strikes on five Iranian tankers and renewed Houthi attacks. It is the first time the global benchmark has crossed that level since July. Analysts warn that sustained prices at this level would feed into fuel costs heading into the midterms.

A member of the Georgia National Guard deployed to Washington as part of a federal anti-crime task force was arrested after pulling a gun on another Guard member. The incident is likely to sharpen scrutiny of the deployment. Officials have not released details of any charges beyond the arrest.

The Danbury City Council voted 18-2 to allow lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients to serve on the city's police force. Supporters cite recruiting shortfalls, while a dissenting council member warns about the citizenship requirement for law enforcement authority. The change takes effect for upcoming hiring cycles.

Persistent traffic and bridge problems have become the central issue in Rhode Island's governor's race as voters cast primary ballots. The incumbent Democrat faces criticism over the state's handling of a long-running span closure. The outcome sets the field for November.

Surveys show Republicans struggling to hold the gains President Trump made with Latino voters, even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio avoids campaign work. Party strategists say the absence of a prominent Hispanic surrogate is being felt in Sun Belt races. Democrats are targeting the same voters on cost-of-living grounds.

Citing what he calls the deep state, President Trump is dismantling much of the intelligence architecture created after the September 11 attacks. Former officials warn the changes weaken information sharing among agencies. Supporters argue the structures grew unaccountable over twenty-five years.

The White House announced late Tuesday that President Trump signed orders banning the sale of Canadian dairy products, many alcoholic beverages and motorcycles in the United States. The move follows Canadian counter-tariffs that took effect earlier this week. Republican Senate candidates in border states now face pressure to defend the escalation ahead of November.

Mountain communities in France and Italy are watching Nepal's flood disaster as glaciers on Western Europe's highest peak continue to retreat. Researchers warn that similar glacial lake hazards are developing in the Alps. Local officials are reassessing evacuation plans.