In other news

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 ABC live blog follows the 2026 AFL grand final between Fremantle and Brisbane at the wet MCG. The match carries major stakes: Brisbane is seeking another three-peat, while Fremantle is chasing its first premiership and playing in its first grand final since 2013. Brisbane has a full-strength side after Lachie Neale won a dramatic appeal, though he began the match on the bench and drew a mixed reception when he came on. The opening quarter was close and physical, with slippery conditions contributing to missed chances. Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron kicked the first goal, but Josh Treacy answered for Fremantle with a mark and goal in the wet. The Lions then scored through Oscar Allen and Kai Lohmann, while Fremantle replied through Murphy Reid and Isaiah Dudley. The Dockers briefly took the lead, but an unusual boundary-line decision denied them a late shot at goal for Josh Treacy. Brisbane led 3.5 (23) to 3.4 (22) at quarter time. The live updates describe a tightly contested second quarter. Fremantle moved ahead when Patrick Voss took a strong contested mark and kicked a goal. Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko appeared to be struggling with a corked thigh, while Conor McKenna later produced a goal from a narrow angle to put the Lions back into the contest. The supplied live scoreboard listed Fremantle at 5.5 (35) and Brisbane at 4.5 (29), while the latest update reports McKenna’s goal. The blog emphasizes how small the margins are, with both teams generating forward entries and the Lions holding an early clearance advantage.

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 couple were airlifted to safety from Tasmania’s Wineglass Bay area in the early hours of Saturday, September 26, after spending the night missing during a walk. Wineglass Bay, on the Freycinet Peninsula, is a popular tourist destination. Tasmania Police said a concerned relative contacted them after being unable to reach the pair. Search and rescue teams were dispatched at about 11pm on Friday, and a rescue helicopter located the couple at approximately 2:40am. Police described them as cold and tired. The article does not report that either person was injured or provide further details about why they became uncontactable. Police used the incident to remind bushwalkers to prepare for changing or difficult conditions by carrying enough warm clothing and food, as well as emergency communication devices. The report focuses on the overnight search and successful rescue, while also highlighting practical safety measures for people walking in remote areas.

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.

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.

A Queensland Family and Child Commission annual report records 452 child deaths in the state during the 2025–26 financial year. Of these, preliminary figures show 91 children were known to child protection services—59.6 per cent more than the 57 recorded the previous year, and the highest such number in five years. The report says 312 children died from natural causes and 94 from external causes, including transport incidents and unintentional injuries. It also records 102 deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, up from 88 the year before. The commission, which maintains Queensland’s child-death register, recommends improving coronial data collection. Its prevention team says recording the school a deceased child attended could help identify patterns and systemic issues. The recommendation was still under consideration by the State Coroner at the end of the reporting period. The report highlights continuing risks from quad bikes in rural communities and deaths associated with severe nutritional deficiencies among children on highly restricted diets. In several cases, children’s diets consisted almost entirely of cow’s milk. The commission referred its findings to the State Coroner and Queensland Health; both agencies are undertaking further work. The ABC had previously reported that excessive cow’s milk contributed to the deaths of three Queensland toddlers over two years. Opposition Leader Steven Miles described the child protection system as being in crisis, citing the number of children in residential care and deaths among children known to child safety. The article also notes that a June inquiry into child safety made 52 recommendations addressing serious failures. The government accepted 32 recommendations and accepted 16 more in principle, including proposals concerning simple adoption and making adoption an option regardless of a child’s cultural background.

Perth’s long-running writers’ festival was expected to return in 2026 after taking a break, but no date or confirmed plan has emerged. Its absence leaves Perth as the only Australian state capital without a major writers’ festival. The event developed from literature programming within the Perth Festival into Perth Writers Week, then contracted during the COVID pandemic and was last held as a weekend program in 2024, jointly run by Writing WA and the State Library of WA. That 2024 event faced controversy over the invitation of singer-songwriter Deborah Conway, whose comments about children killed in Gaza had drawn criticism. Organisers kept her appearances, increased security, established protest zones, added Palestinian-heritage writers to the program and stated their opposition to censorship, bigotry and discrimination. Writing WA chair Per Henningsgaard says national controversies may make restarting a festival daunting, though he has no direct knowledge of Perth Festival’s reasoning. Former curator Sisonke Msimang also describes longstanding political tensions around arts funding and mining-company sponsorship, and says the Gaza conflict has made it harder for festival directors to avoid political scrutiny. Meanwhile, smaller literary events have grown across Western Australia, including festivals in Joondalup, Fremantle, Mandurah and Kalamunda. The Margaret River Writers and Readers Festival has expanded with ongoing Tourism WA funding and by coordinating its schedule with major east-coast festivals to share international authors’ travel costs. It has also begun bringing one-off literary events to Perth in partnership with the State Library. Perth Festival says its intention to create a new festival remains, but it has not confirmed when or how it will proceed.

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.

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 profiles Nvidia founder and chief executive Jensen Huang, focusing on his growing influence in artificial intelligence and his close relationship with US President Donald Trump. Their public alignment was highlighted when Trump called Huang during a live AI summit and endorsed his position that warnings about AI risks were exaggerated. Experts say the relationship could influence US policy and the direction of AI development. Huang argues that the United States should compete aggressively in global markets and ease restrictions on advanced Nvidia chip sales to China. He believes excluding Nvidia from China could encourage Beijing to develop domestic alternatives and undermine US companies’ long-term position. Critics, however, warn that access to powerful chips could strengthen Chinese AI capabilities, including uses in surveillance, censorship, and the military, while weakening America’s technological lead. The article also describes Trump’s approach as balancing restrictions on China with a desire to preserve trade and diplomatic leverage. The profile traces Huang’s rise from a childhood in Taiwan and Thailand to immigrating to the United States as a child, working at Denny’s, and studying engineering. He credits a demanding upbringing with fostering resilience and says he continues to work seven days a week. Biographer Stephen Witt portrays him as intensely driven and forceful, with a strong belief in AI as a force for progress. The article presents disagreement over Huang’s relatively sanguine view of AI risks, noting that many researchers and AI-company leaders take those risks more seriously. It also explains Nvidia’s reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and other partners to manufacture its chip designs, adding a geopolitical dimension to the debate over US-China technology policy.

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.

Pope Leo XIV made an official visit to France, described in the article as the first papal visit to the country in 18 years. The visit drew huge crowds. During a Mass at the Stade de France, the Pope delivered a message of encouragement to thousands of young people. These are the central details provided in the supplied article text: it identifies the occasion, the size and character of the gathering, the venue, and the audience for the Pope’s message. The article does not provide further information about the contents of his remarks, the rest of his itinerary, the reactions of attendees, or the broader significance of the visit. It is presented as a brief news report, with a video-newsfeed headline and publication date of September 26, 2026. The account’s focus is on the public gathering and the Pope’s address to young people, rather than on political or theological analysis. Overall, the report portrays the visit as a notable event marked by a large turnout and an encouraging message. No additional claims about the visit or its context can be established from the provided text.

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.

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.

The report says Yemen’s government is offering a general amnesty to Houthi rebels who defect. President Rashad al-Alimi also called on Yemenis to mobilise and join the country’s armed forces. The offer comes amid intensified fighting between government forces and the Houthis, with recent clashes reported near the coast of the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The Houthis are described in the report as Iran-backed. The article provides only a brief account. It does not specify the terms or duration of the amnesty, how many people might be eligible, or whether any defectors have accepted the offer. It also gives no further detail about the recent fighting or its effects. The report’s central points are therefore the government’s appeal for military mobilisation, its amnesty offer to Houthi defectors, and the escalation of clashes near a strategically significant strait. Overall, it presents these developments as part of the ongoing conflict between Yemen’s government and the Houthi movement without offering additional background or analysis.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chair, Rashad al-Alimi, has urged Yemenis to enlist in or otherwise support the Saudi-backed government forces as the Houthis make advances towards the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb strait. In a recorded speech on Friday, he called for general mobilisation and said people should join the armed and security forces through official channels or contribute in other ways. The appeal came after government forces were routed from parts of the western Red Sea coast, and as the Houthis continue attacks connected to the conflict. Al-Alimi also announced an immediate amnesty for Houthi fighters who defect to government forces. He said pardons would be granted in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures. He reiterated the internationally recognised government’s goal of restoring state institutions and its authority across Yemen, including in Sana’a, which the Houthis seized in 2014. The speech coincided with the 64th anniversary of the 1962 military coup that ended the monarchy in northern Yemen and prompted civil war. Regional security efforts were also under way. The military chiefs of staff of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan held their first meeting under the Mecca Pact, a trilateral defence agreement, amid continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Separately, the Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Khamis Mushait and two drones headed towards Riyadh. The article presents al-Alimi’s mobilisation appeal and amnesty offer against the backdrop of recent battlefield setbacks, Houthi advances, and heightened regional military coordination.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Venezuela’s promised elections could be delayed until late 2027 or later, according to political sources and analysts cited by Reuters. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has said that state institutions are preparing for elections and that her government has opened talks with the opposition, but she has not set a timetable. The article identifies institutional reforms and the priorities of the United States as key factors behind the delay. A central obstacle is the proposed replacement of all 32 Supreme Court judges and the five directors of the National Electoral Council. Opposition groups and international rights observers have questioned the independence of both institutions and described President Nicolas Maduro’s 2018 and 2024 re-elections as fraudulent. Even after a new electoral council is appointed, authorities would need to update voter rolls, ensure parties can participate, and decide practical matters such as whether voting would be manual or electronic. Sources estimate this process alone could take up to a year. US officials have argued that political change must be accompanied by economic and social stability. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that a newly elected government inheriting a severe crisis could put the transition at risk. Critics, however, say Washington’s focus on stability and commercial arrangements—including oil and investment deals with Rodriguez’s interim government—has reduced the urgency of holding a free election. The article also notes that opposition participation remains constrained. Maria Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader living in exile, has been absent from talks and has faced obstacles to returning to Venezuela. Some US lawmakers say Washington has not obtained meaningful democratic concessions. Analysts characterize the transition as long-term and open-ended, with neither Caracas nor Washington taking decisive steps toward an election.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The page is for Euronews’ morning news bulletin, published on 26 September 2026 at 7:00 GMT+2. Its introductory text describes the bulletin as a short roundup of important stories from Europe and elsewhere, covering areas such as world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment and travel. Euronews says the newsroom aims to provide context for a fast-moving news day and presents the bulletin as an independent, European-perspective overview for viewers wherever they are. The supplied page content does not include a transcript or a detailed account of the stories actually covered in the video. It does, however, display numerous headlines for other videos and news items. These include reports concerning Ukraine and Russian drone attacks, a vehicle recall affecting Audi and Volkswagen, France, Pope Leo XIV, Emmanuel Macron, the United Nations General Assembly, artificial intelligence, and business impacts from rising energy costs. Those headlines indicate the range of topics available on the site, but they should not be treated as confirmed contents of the morning bulletin itself. Most of the remaining extracted text consists of webpage elements: sharing and embed prompts, advertisements, navigation labels, playback controls, and recommendations for other videos and articles. The page’s central purpose is to introduce and provide access to the morning bulletin, rather than to report a single fully described news event in the text provided. Its language is informational and promotional only in the limited sense that it describes the bulletin’s intended value; it does not express a strong emotional or political position.

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.

Current and former FBI agents have told BBC News they are shocked, angry and fearful after a cyberattack that appears to have exposed personal information about the agency’s workforce. The hacking group ShinyHunters claims it breached FBI systems and threatens to publish stolen data unless the agency meets its demands. Samples shared with reporters appear to contain names, home addresses, phone numbers, badge numbers, job titles and information about agents’ spouses, as well as sensitive medical records. The FBI says it is aggressively investigating the breach but has not commented on requests for further details. Agents and cybersecurity specialists warn that the exposed information could endanger employees and their families. It could enable targeted harassment, physical attacks, scams, phishing, extortion or recruitment attempts by hostile foreign intelligence services. Some of the information may already be circulating among online groups, potentially causing harm before ShinyHunters publishes any larger dataset. Experts say data stolen in breaches can remain available on the dark web for years. The breach has also prompted anger over what former agents describe as inadequate security. They say it is particularly troubling because ShinyHunters is not generally considered a highly sophisticated group, and because the FBI is among the world’s best-resourced law enforcement agencies. Staff are reportedly uncertain about how to respond if the threatened publication goes ahead. One former agent criticizes advice to use DeleteMe, a service that removes personal information from data broker websites, as an insufficient response. ShinyHunters is reportedly seeking the retraction of an FBI advisory it says offended the group, rather than money. The incident could raise further questions about FBI Director Kash Patel’s leadership. Despite the concerns, former officials expect the bureau to mobilize its partners and resources to pursue the hackers, who have been linked to other high-profile extortion attacks.

Mississippi police believe Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black mother of four, was killed before her body was placed hanging in a tree at an abandoned home in Jackson. A detective disclosed the belief in court on Friday, saying investigators think Fortune was killed in a dispute related to drugs. The medical examiner determined her death was a homicide, and police said the scene and hanging were staged. Officials have not disclosed the precise cause of death or explained the evidence behind their conclusion that the hanging was staged. Fortune’s death in August prompted widespread fear in Jackson, a majority-Black city with a history of racial violence and lynchings. After weeks of speculation and calls for answers, police made three arrests. Jarques Ratliff, 51, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bond. Earnest Lloyd Jr, 25, was arrested this week, and Eric Clark, 45, turned himself in on Friday and was charged with murder. Clark is due in court on Monday. Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, recalled being told that her daughter was already dead before she was placed in the tree, and that police considered the case drug-related. She said she believes Fortune fought for her life and emphasized that she wants investigators to arrest the right people, not send innocent people to jail. Fortune leaves behind four children, aged seven, five, four and one. The case is among several recent deaths of Black people found hanging that have led lawmakers to urge the Justice Department and FBI to investigate such cases nationwide. Representative Ayanna Pressley cited at least 10 documented incidents in a September letter to Congress signed by more than 50 lawmakers. The article also notes that a recent hanging death in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was ruled a suicide.

South Africa’s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, rejects President Donald Trump’s claim that white Afrikaners face genocide in South Africa. Meyer, himself an Afrikaner and a former National Party negotiator in the talks that ended apartheid, says he has never experienced such persecution and argues that information about violence has been misrepresented. He hopes to speak with Trump and says his background gives him a particular legitimacy to address the issue, while emphasizing that he represents South Africa as a whole. The article sets Meyer’s position alongside accounts from Afrikaners who support the refugee pathway established by the Trump administration. One woman, identified publicly as Lielie, moved to Texas with her family after describing fear and attempted trespasses at their South African farm. SJ Du Venage, a Freedom Front Plus council member seeking to move to the US, alleges a political campaign to kill white people and farmers. The US plans to admit as many as 17,500 additional Afrikaners over the next year; nearly 13,000 refugees have already been admitted since last year, all but three of them South African. The White House says the programme offers a lifeline to a community facing violence. Other voices dispute the genocide framing. The article notes that claims of genocide have been rejected across South Africa’s political spectrum, including by parties representing Afrikaners. Police data show most crime victims, including victims of farm crime, are black. Farm violence—often linked to robbery—is a real but comparatively small part of the country’s homicide toll, and experts say crime does not in itself constitute persecution. A former US refugee-programme director questions whether the scheme is consistent with refugee law, while pastor Rudi Swanepoel attributes some Afrikaner grievances to losing privileges once protected under apartheid. The article also describes US criticism of South African policies intended to redress racial inequality, including employment targets and land expropriation rules. Meyer urges Washington to revoke its executive order and assist South Africa in tackling crime, while arguing that the country’s wider crime crisis affects black communities especially severely.

The article introduces Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong who are returning to education after putting their personal ambitions on hold for family responsibilities. According to the headline and introductory description, they are pursuing degrees while continuing to work, with support from the Hong Kong non-profit FullPhils. The excerpt frames their studies as a chance to revisit goals set aside earlier in life. Dyan Agonoy left the Philippines to work in Hong Kong and was separated from her family. She says she has missed many of her children’s milestones and family occasions, and feels the absence keenly when she is the only one missing from photographs. Agonoy had left university, married young, and started a family. Because she did not have the bachelor’s degree required for many jobs, she took up domestic work overseas. 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 plans. Together, the accounts highlight how caregiving and economic circumstances can postpone women’s educational and professional ambitions, while presenting further study as possible even after a long delay. The headline’s phrase “Never too late” emphasizes the hopeful theme of returning to those ambitions. The supplied article text ends after introducing Aguilario, so it does not provide details about the women’s current degree programs, the nature of FullPhils’ support, or the article’s further reporting. This summary is therefore limited to the excerpt and the information in the headline and introductory description.

The article examines the body language of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, alongside that of US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during the conclusion of Xi’s three-day state visit to Washington. It focuses on the couples’ joint appearance at the National Archives Museum on Friday, which the article describes as the culmination of their activities together during the visit. Body language expert Patti Wood is quoted as interpreting the couples’ interactions as notably different. On the museum steps, Xi and Peng held hands while walking, and Wood said the gesture appeared natural. She also observed that they walked closely and in sync. The headline and introductory framing promise a contrast with Trump and Melania Trump’s hand-holding dynamics, but the provided article excerpt ends before describing their arrival or reporting Wood’s assessment of them. As a result, the available text establishes the setting and the observation about Xi and Peng, but does not provide enough information to characterize the Trump couple’s behavior or explain the full comparison. The article is attributed to Lucy Quaggin and dated September 26, 2026. Overall, it presents a brief, expert-led reading of a public appearance, using physical gestures as a lens on the couples’ dynamics rather than offering broader conclusions about their relationships.

The article examines why Pakistan’s long-running campaigns against militant groups have not ended violence in its western regions. For more than two decades, the country has conducted counterterrorism operations against Taliban and Baloch insurgents near the borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Yet attacks continue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where soldiers, police officers, civilians, government officials and other prominent people are killed regularly. Militants use a range of tactics—including roadside bombs, explosive-laden drones, coordinated ambushes, suicide attacks, raids, assassinations and kidnappings—to challenge the state and weaken its authority and credibility. Pakistan’s military frequently presents its operations as successful, reporting that hundreds of perpetrators are eliminated each month. Its statements, as described in the article, emphasize the number of insurgents killed and suggest that few remain alive for interrogation. But these tactical claims have not translated into lasting security: retaliatory violence and recurring attacks continue, leaving the country trapped in a cycle of conflict. The article’s framing also points to a broader concern: two distinct insurgencies may be converging, even as military operations continue. The supplied text does not provide further details about that convergence or the causes behind the campaigns’ failure. Its central contrast is nevertheless clear: repeated battlefield gains and official tallies coexist with persistent insecurity, indicating that the operations described have not broken the cycle or delivered peace.

ArcelorMittal says it will shut production at Ukraine’s largest steel plant after repeated Russian strikes made safe and sustainable operations impossible. The company informed the Ukrainian government on Friday that four attacks in five weeks had caused extensive damage and killed five workers at the southeastern facility. The plant employs about 12,500 people and 3,500 contractors, and its closure is another setback for a steel industry that once generated 15 per cent of Ukraine’s exports. The shutdown comes amid intensified Russian aerial attacks on businesses, logistics networks, port facilities and civilian infrastructure. The article describes the strikes’ wider economic consequences: damage to production and transport is reducing tax revenue and widening the Ukrainian government’s budget gap as it finances the war. Friday’s attacks killed seven people in Kyiv, including a 14-year-old boy, and injured dozens. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported 59 injured, 25 of whom were hospitalized, including one person in serious condition. A food warehouse used by McDonald’s was also hit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and urged the international community to respond. Russia denies targeting civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had attacked on multiple fronts, threatened retaliatory action, and said proposals for peace talks and a ceasefire remained available, though Moscow would consider its response. The United Nations monitoring mission reported at least 200 civilian deaths in Ukraine during September and damage to homes, hospitals, shops and workplaces. Ukraine has also struck targets in Russia, including an oil refinery in the Rostov region and facilities in Perm and Ulyanovsk. The report presents these developments as part of an escalating cycle of attacks, with the steel plant’s shutdown illustrating the mounting human and economic costs of the war.

The White House says President Donald Trump will cancel nearly $1 billion in spending that Congress had approved, using a “pocket rescission” to withhold funds for immigrant services and other programs. The Office of Management and Budget described the cuts as targeting “the most harmful government spending.” The administration argues that some immigration-related funding is no longer needed because illegal border crossings have fallen. Other targeted spending includes services for migrant students, efforts to reduce racial tensions, support for minority entrepreneurs, housing counselling, health research, international education programs, and foreign debt relief connected to climate policies. The move has drawn criticism from both parties. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the cuts came without warning or consultation and called them an illegal usurpation of Congress’s spending authority. The Government Accountability Office has also said the “pocket rescission” approach is illegal. Federal law gives Congress 45 days to review proposed cuts, but Trump announced the plan with only five days left in the fiscal year and while the House was out of session. The article places the action in the context of Trump’s earlier use of the same tactic to block $4.9 billion in foreign aid, which the Supreme Court declined to stop. It describes the current cuts as part of a broader effort by the administration to expand executive control and says the maneuver leaves courts to determine the limits of presidential power. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray called the cuts “theft from the American people,” arguing that Congress had approved the funding on a bipartisan basis. The White House also identified specific cuts, including $70 million for international education programs, $28 million for health research, $9 million in foreign debt relief, and $10 million for a minority business program.

Hurricane Polo regained Category 5 strength off Mexico’s southwestern coast, reaching maximum sustained winds of 180 mph on Friday—well above the 157 mph threshold for Category 5. The storm was roughly 320 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, moving west at 10 mph. The National Hurricane Center expected Polo to begin weakening over the weekend, although further fluctuations were possible. Forecasts called for it to approach Baja California Sur on Monday. The U.S. State Department, citing forecast models, expected it to weaken to Category 1 before making landfall in northern Baja California Sur, then move northeast into southern Sonora. The hurricane could bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 10 inches, creating a risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. Swells were also forecast to spread along Mexico’s southwestern and west-central coasts and the Baja California peninsula, with hazards including dangerous surf, rip currents, and coastal flooding. Mexican authorities ordered evacuations, opened shelters, and deployed military personnel. Acapulco suspended classes, while shelters remained open in Guerrero; coastal municipalities in Michoacán also canceled classes and advised residents to stay home unless travel was essential. Polo intensified exceptionally quickly, with winds rising from 45 mph on Monday morning to 150 mph around the same time Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center called the transformation “truly remarkable.” Its peak winds reached 180 mph, and its central pressure made it the second-strongest hurricane on record in the Eastern Pacific, behind Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Its wind speed tied Hurricane Rick’s 2009 record as the region’s third-highest. The article attributes unusually active Pacific cyclone conditions this year in part to strong El Niño conditions, warmer ocean waters, moist air, and reduced wind shear. It also notes that Hurricane Nolo strengthened in the Pacific as it headed toward Hawaii’s Big Island.

The U.S. Army Reserve is assessing whether it can make police, medical, logistics and other support units available to U.S. Southern Command within 90 to 120 days, according to an internal message reviewed by CBS News. U.S. officials say the request is part of continuing military planning related to Cuba, although the message itself does not mention the island. It gives no troop numbers, deployment locations or specific operation, and there is no indication that any units have received deployment orders. The requested formations include sustainment and engineer battalions, a medical brigade, a surgical detachment and a military police brigade. The Army Reserve did not respond to CBS News; Southern Command cited operational security and declined to discuss possible movements or timelines. The planning follows reports of U.S. reconnaissance near Cuba, heightened readiness among airpower components, intelligence assessments of Cuba’s response to possible military action and military planners’ examination of options, including a potential Army-led air assault. Officials have emphasized that prior planning and briefings do not show that President Trump or the Pentagon has decided to act. The article places the developments within the administration’s more assertive Western Hemisphere policy, dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine,” and describes U.S. military operations and strikes elsewhere in the region, some of which legal experts have questioned as potentially unlawful. The administration has imposed sanctions on Cuban entities and officials and publicly called for political change. At the U.N. General Assembly, Trump predicted Cuba’s communist government would fall, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio was negotiating with Havana, and vowed to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining influence nearby. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has condemned U.S. pressure as aggression and economic warfare and vowed to resist an attack. Trump has also made public remarks suggesting he might “take” Cuba and declaring that “Cuba’s going to be next.”

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.

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.

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.