The Nations

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed renewed Ethiopia’s demand for Red Sea access, the Associated Press reports, after coastal states asserted responsibility for the sea at a regional meeting. The landlocked country says it favors dialogue amid tensions with Eritrea. No access agreement or military action over the demand was reported.

Romania says two crew members died and 11 were rescued after the Turkish-owned Royad Mammadov caught fire and sank in its Black Sea economic zone, BBC News and DW report. President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russian drones; Romania had not established the cause and Russia had not commented on this vessel specifically.

President Bola Tinubu says all 32 people aboard a Nigerian military aircraft died after it crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo state, DW reports. The air force identified it as an ATR-42 on a routine flight to Lagos. Earlier reports described a rescue operation; the cause of the crash remains unknown.

Taliban officials joined Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and other countries for Afghanistan talks in Moscow, the Associated Press reports through ABC News. Russia offered to mediate Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions if both sides requested it. No settlement was reported; Moscow’s praise of Taliban policy is its own assessment.

More than 5,000 supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan began a dayslong march toward Islamabad after negotiations failed, the Associated Press reports through NPR. They seek his release, hospital transfer and family visits; officials dispute claims about his access to care and relatives. Authorities have erected roadblocks.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called an early general election for November 29 after lawmakers rejected housing measures, BBC News and AP coverage in the Washington Examiner report. His minority coalition faces protests over rents and evictions. The announcement seeks a stronger parliamentary mandate; the election outcome remains undecided.

Pacific leaders opened pre-COP climate talks in Fiji calling for accessible adaptation finance, ocean protection and efforts to keep warming within 1.5°C, AFP reports through France 24. The meetings in Nadi and Tuvalu precede November’s COP31 summit in Turkey. Delegates are pressing for commitments; new financing outcomes remain pending.

Nicaragua’s government announced an immediate withdrawal from the Central American Parliament after the Organization of American States called for restored civil rights and the release of political prisoners, Al Jazeera reports. Managua described the move as an exercise of sovereignty. Its practical effects on regional cooperation have not been detailed.

Downing Street says RAF Fairford remains safe after US bombers were withdrawn, BBC News reports. Marco Rubio would not directly link the move to a nearby security incident, while JD Vance cited an abundance of caution. Six people arrested in the investigation were released on bail; the specific threat has not been disclosed.

Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected claims that federal election monitors would be armed in an interview on Fox News Sunday, the Washington Examiner reports. He described Justice Department monitoring as a longstanding practice and said the administration would continue it. The interview’s assurances do not establish the final deployment plan.

The World Food Programme says an air strike killed a driver in a clearly marked food-aid convoy in Sudan’s South Kordofan on Saturday, Al Jazeera reports. The agency called for an investigation and did not identify those responsible. The full extent of the damage remains under assessment.

Philippine immigration authorities say two raids on Mindanao detained 244 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, in a crackdown on illegal offshore gaming operations, Al Jazeera reports. Officials say they are investigating possible trafficking offenses involving some detainees and plan to deport others; individual responsibility has not been established.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government says its forces seized positions near Bab al-Mandeb during a Saudi-backed offensive, the Washington Examiner reports. AP reports a major coastal campaign following Houthi gains near Taiz and says its details could not immediately be verified. Claimed territorial control and the campaign’s outcome remain uncertain.

An NBC News/Telemundo poll finds registered Latino voters prefer Democratic control of Congress by 59% to 35%, amid concerns about prices and immigration enforcement. The September 21–28 survey included 800 voters and has a 3.5-point margin of error. It measures current preferences, with turnout and regional differences still uncertain.

Two people died and at least one remained missing after heavy rain flooded parts of Catalonia, DW reports, citing emergency authorities. One died in a campsite wall collapse and another in a flooded garage. Authorities warned of extreme danger near Barcelona and Girona; rail services and flights were disrupted.

Flávio Bolsonaro finished Brazil’s first-round count with 47.03% of valid votes and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with 45.16%, Estadão reports through UOL, citing the electoral court’s completed tally. Neither won a majority, so they will contest an October 25 runoff. The result replaces the earlier partial count; the runoff winner remains undecided.

A witness told the Associated Press that government-allied Tigray Peace Force fighters entered Mekelle after the TPLF announced its withdrawal. BBC News also reports the retreat and Ethiopian government forces moving into the city. Communications disruptions impede verification of territorial control, while residents describe looting; the military situation remains fluid.

With counting nearly complete, nationalist candidates Željka Cvijanović and Darijana Filipović and Social Democrat Denis Bećirović were reported as winners of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s three presidency seats, DW reports. Officials put turnout at 41.5%. Final certification and governing coalitions remain pending; the result preserves a politically divided presidency.

The Supreme Court’s term begins Monday with cases concerning religious funding, gun rights, climate litigation and immigration, NPR reports. The preview outlines competing legal arguments and a continuing emergency docket. These are cases awaiting decisions; the court has not yet resolved the questions described.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced over €1.3 billion in military and energy aid in Kyiv, the Associated Press reports. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 15 agreements worth over €8.5 billion were signed and Ukraine was ready for proposed US technical talks with Russia. Another Russian strike damaged the Northern Bridge, wounding two according to the mayor; Moscow’s response to talks remains pending.

A US official told Al Jazeera that the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group is heading to the Middle East, followed by the Makin Island force carrying more than 2,000 Marines. The official says the buildup expands President Trump’s military options as diplomacy with Iran continues. The report does not establish that a new attack has been ordered.

G20 trade ministers did not reach agreement on industrial overcapacity or eliminating forced labor from supply chains, US trade chief Jamieson Greer said after Milwaukee talks, France 24 reports. China rejects accusations about excess capacity. Ministers did agree against using food trade as a coercive weapon.

Australia’s transport safety investigators are examining four recent Sydney Airport runway incidents, Fox News reports. Preliminary findings identify staffing pressures, combined control-tower roles and fatigue risks as areas for inquiry; investigators have not determined whether they caused the incidents. One flight attendant suffered a fractured wrist during sudden braking.

The Justice Department says it arrested Energy Department engineer Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy in Washington state on a charge of attempting to support the Houthis. Prosecutors allege he bought explosive and drone components and helped an FBI source posing as a Houthi intermediary adapt communications equipment. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Friday; the charge is an allegation, and guilt has not been established.

Vice President JD Vance said he would support eliminating the H-1B visa program in an interview with Jack Posobiec, the Daily Wire reports. He accused employers of using it to replace US workers with cheaper labor. His remarks express a policy preference; they do not themselves end the specialty-worker visa program.

A Fox News survey puts Democrat Josh Turek at 49% and Republican Ashley Hinson at 47% among Iowa likely voters, within its three-point sampling margin of error. The September 24–28 poll interviewed 1,204 registered voters, including 1,008 likely voters. Cost-of-living concerns dominate respondents’ priorities; the result measures current preferences rather than predicting the election.

James Talarico leads Ken Paxton 51% to 49% among Texas likely voters in a Fox News poll, a difference within the survey’s three-point sampling margin of error. The September 24–28 survey interviewed 1,203 registered voters, including 881 likely voters. It also finds Governor Greg Abbott ahead of Gina Hinojosa 52% to 47%; neither result is an election forecast.

A federal judge ordered Roger Rogoff reinstated as US attorney in Seattle, CBS News reports. Judge Stanley Bastian said President Trump could not unilaterally remove a prosecutor appointed by the district court while the vacancy remains unfilled by a Senate-confirmed replacement. The Justice Department plans an appeal and an immediate request to halt the ruling; the appointment dispute remains unsettled.

New internal ICE guidance bars high-speed chases and limits vehicle stops to officers with specified training, AP reports after obtaining the memo. It also requires activated body cameras and properly marked vehicles during stops. The policy follows shootings in vehicle encounters; ICE and DHS did not immediately comment, and how the agency will enforce the rules remains unclear.

Vladimir Putin said Russia would consider using all weapons at its disposal if Kaliningrad or other Russian territory came under direct attack, the BBC reports. Moscow has also issued nuclear warnings over a possible blockade. NATO says its activities pose no threat to Russia and has called for an end to nuclear threats; no blockade has been established.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’s United List is expected to hold 42 of Latvia’s 100 parliamentary seats, the Associated Press reports through ABC News. Lawmakers are beginning talks on a multiparty government after the election, with turnout above 51%. Its pro-Ukraine course continues; the new governing coalition has not yet been settled.

The Democratic National Committee sued over the removal of a checkbox for overseas US citizens who have never lived in the country, the Guardian reports. The Pentagon said the change was intended to reduce confusion. The lawsuit argues the rushed procedure was unlawful; experts say changing the form does not itself remove eligible citizens’ voting rights.

Eritrea severed diplomatic ties after Ethiopia closed its embassy and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats, DW reports. Ethiopia accused its neighbor of hostile activity linked to renewed Tigray fighting; Eritrea called the action absurd and denied supporting armed opponents. Reports of blasts in Addis Ababa remain unresolved, with no established cause, responsibility or casualty count.

Treasury proposed rules for a federal K–12 scholarship tax credit starting in 2027, the Washington Examiner reports. Donors to eligible scholarship organizations could receive nonrefundable credits of up to $1,700 per individual or $3,400 for joint filers. The credit goes to donors; students receive scholarships in participating states. The regulations are proposed and have not been finalized.

The Supreme Court agreed to review whether immigrants facing deportation can be held without bond hearings while their cases proceed, NBC News reports. Lower courts are divided over the administration’s reading of federal law. The government says its policy treats border and interior arrests consistently; challengers say it unlawfully expands mandatory detention. A ruling is due by June.

November’s state legislative and governor races could change party control in closely divided states and affect abortion, school-choice and data-center policy, AP reports. More than 6,100 lawmakers and 36 governors are on the ballot. Results in Minnesota, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin could open a path to redraw congressional maps before 2028.

An AP-NORC survey found 65% of US adults blame President Trump’s policies for unusually high prices, while 67% of Republicans blame factors beyond his control. The September 24–28 poll interviewed 2,140 adults and has a ±2.9-point overall sampling margin. These are respondents’ views, rather than a measurement of which policies caused inflation.

G7 leaders agreed to an IEA-coordinated release of 100 million barrels of oil and diesel, BBC News and the official G7 statement report. The statement sets a four-month timetable, with a substantial diesel release in the first 20 days, and pledges against energy export restrictions between G7 members. Country allocations and the effect on fuel prices remain uncertain.

The Justice Department charged 10 people in Minnesota with allegedly voting illegally across three elections, AP reports. Election experts say noncitizen voting remains rare and has not been shown to change outcomes. The charges are allegations; DOJ’s broader 90-case figure includes other kinds of election misconduct.

Two US officials told AP that Marco Rubio ordered Iran’s UN delegation to leave New York early after indirect talks made little progress. Iran’s delegation denied being ordered out and said its departure followed a schedule given to the State Department on September 17. The accounts conflict over whether Washington changed the departure timing.

Japan raised its permanent-residency application fee twentyfold to 200,000 yen and introduced tighter income and pension requirements, the BBC reports. Other residency fees now vary by length of stay, with hardship and refugee discounts. A basic Japanese-language requirement begins next April, rather than taking effect with today’s fee increase.

Texas authorities arrested Benny Caldera Jr. after a tip about an alleged attack planned at the State Capitol for Thursday, Fox News and The Texas Tribune report. State officials said the FBI then took him into federal custody; the federal charge was not disclosed. The Capitol remains open with added security, and officials say they see no ongoing threat.

Los Angeles County’s half-cent Measure ER sales tax took effect October 1, but its proceeds must remain unspent while a legal challenge is pending, the county says. The five-year measure is intended to support health and other services. The county defends its legality; the Libertarian Party’s lawsuit challenges the state law allowing the tax above the usual limit.

Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana asked the Supreme Court to let them challenge abortion shield laws in California, Massachusetts and New York, AP reports. Those laws protect providers prescribing pills across state lines. The justices rarely hear disputes directly between states; no decision to take the case or ruling has been announced.

Another wave of heavy rain and landslides has killed about 30 people in Nepal and damaged roads, homes and bridges, the BBC reports. Hundreds of Annapurna Circuit trekkers cut their hikes short, with some evacuated by helicopter. Local officials reported no deaths in the trekking region, while a separate avalanche left climbers dead or missing.

Syria’s electricity company says a gas-pipeline explosion in Eastern Ghouta cut fuel supplies to the Deir Ali, al-Nasiriyah and Tishreen power plants, Al Jazeera reports. Officials warned that power rationing would increase while teams tackled the fire. The cause of this blast and the repair timetable remain unknown.

The Senate voted 53–47 on opening debate on a Republican bill restricting lawmakers’ stock purchases, short of the 60 votes required, The Guardian reports. Republicans said it would restore trust in Congress. Democrats objected that members could retain existing portfolios and that the measure included voter ID rules. The bill has not become law.

Passengers and crew overpowered a co-pilot who stabbed the captain on a Flydubai flight carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the BBC reports. It landed safely in Saudi Arabia; the injured captain is stable. Flydubai suspended Israel flights pending investigation, AP and The Guardian report. The attacker’s motive remains unconfirmed.

Senators from both parties reached a deal to speed federal reviews of energy and infrastructure projects, the Washington Examiner and AP report. The draft would streamline transmission approvals, limit some environmental-law challenges and make data centers cover associated transmission costs. A vote is expected after the midterms; protections for wind projects remain unresolved.

A Paris court convicted six smugglers of involuntary homicide and sentenced them to six to 10 years over the 2021 English Channel sinking that killed 31 migrants, the BBC reports. Seven others received lesser sentences and one was acquitted. A separate investigation into seven French military personnel accused of failing to answer distress calls continues.