Fighting has increased in northern Ethiopia between the government army and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The conflict is raising concerns that the country might be returning to a civil war.
Key Facts
The Ethiopian army said it killed 272 TPLF fighters in the Amhara region.
The TPLF called the current fighting a "full-blown war."
The TPLF recently joined an alliance with six other armed groups.
Fighting is mainly happening in the northern part of Ethiopia.
The conflict is related to long-standing tensions between the government and the TPLF.
The situation is causing fear of a wider civil war in Ethiopia.
The TPLF controls the city of Mekele, where the airport was recently taken over by rebel forces.
Flights to and from Mekele airport have been stopped because of the conflict.
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Daniel Thomas has pleaded not guilty to damaging a boat in the English Channel and to not giving police the pin code to his phone. He appeared in court with support from far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, while protests took place outside a police center in Basingstoke.
Key Facts
Daniel Thomas is charged with criminal damage for allegedly slashing a boat in the Channel.
An emergency responder was on the boat when it was allegedly damaged.
Thomas also denies refusing to give police the pin code to his phone.
He appeared at Basingstoke magistrates court and pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (known as Tommy Robinson) supported Thomas at the court.
Several hundred people protested outside a police investigation center in Basingstoke.
The protest lasted several hours and was monitored by many police officers.
Daniel Thomas is 37 years old and has no fixed address.
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Pope Leo XIV arrived in Paris and met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. They held private talks about international politics, artificial intelligence, and peace. The Pope plans to give a speech at the Élysée during his visit.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV visited Paris for a diplomatic trip.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Pope at the Élysée Palace.
Their meeting was private and covered geopolitics, AI, and peace efforts.
The Pope will give a speech at the Élysée during his stay.
The visit lasts four days and includes other events like a Notre-Dame visit.
The visit aims to draw attention to peace, human dignity, and technology.
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In the Croatian town of Gospić, illegal dumping of about 35,000 tonnes of hazardous waste between 2022 and 2024 has caused health and environmental concerns. Despite arrests made in early 2025, the waste remains, leading residents to form a campaign demanding cleanup and government action.
Key Facts
Around 35,000 tonnes of toxic waste were dumped illegally near homes in Gospić, Croatia.
Waste included hazardous materials; some chemicals called PFAS were found in nearby groundwater.
PFAS are man-made chemicals that last a long time in the environment and can cause serious health problems.
Local residents noticed trucks dumping waste at night and started filming them.
In February 2025, police arrested 13 people suspected of running a criminal group importing waste illegally from Italy, Slovenia, and Germany.
The criminal network reportedly made over €4 million by falsely declaring the waste as recyclable.
Despite arrests, the contaminated waste site has not been cleaned up after 18 months.
Residents formed the campaign “Gospić is our home” to push for cleanup and raise awareness across Croatia.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the United Nations, strongly defending Israel’s actions in Gaza and criticizing some world leaders. Meanwhile, protests and arrests took place outside the UN. Other Middle East events include Iran proposing talks to the US, and Saudi Arabia intercepting missiles from Yemen.
Key Facts
Netanyahu called a global anti-Jewish conspiracy and denied that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Netanyahu also criticized Turkey’s leader and New York’s Zohran Mamdani during his UN speech.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said his team was denied visas by President Trump’s administration to attend the UN meeting.
Over 100 people were arrested during protests outside the UN, including actress Susan Sarandon.
Rapper Macklemore announced a Free Palestine charity tour in Europe and North America.
Iran offered to open the Strait of Hormuz and begin nuclear talks if the US lifts sanctions and ends wars on all fronts.
Senate Republicans blocked a resolution that would end US war powers regarding Iran.
Saudi Arabia intercepted six missiles fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, raising oil price concerns.
A Texas court overturned the conviction of Crystal Mason in a controversial illegal voting case, ending her legal battle.
Nevada wrongly identified 185 voters as non-citizens, raising fears around election integrity.
California’s supreme court ordered a sheriff to return over 650,000 confiscated ballots for violating election law.
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A woman who previously accused rapper Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 years old has now officially said that her accusation is not true. She admitted that she never met Jay-Z, and her original claims were false. Jay-Z had denied the allegations and is suing the woman’s former lawyers.
Key Facts
The woman accused Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs of raping her at a party in 2000 but has since said these claims were false.
She said Jay-Z never raped her, never met her, and did nothing inappropriate toward her.
The woman dropped her lawsuit against Jay-Z in early 2025 before making this new statement.
Jay-Z denied the accusations from the start, calling them attempts at blackmail.
Jay-Z is suing the woman’s former lawyers for filing the false lawsuit without proper investigation.
The woman said she was contacted by lawyers after seeing a Facebook ad about sexual assault claims linked to Combs.
She said her lawyers filed the original claims without her approval or proper fact-checking.
Sean "Diddy" Combs denies the claims; he is currently serving prison time for unrelated prostitution-related charges.
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Iran has offered the United States a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if certain conditions are met. The two countries are communicating indirectly through Qatar at the UN, but no major diplomatic progress has been announced yet.
Key Facts
Iran presented a proposal to the U.S. through Qatar during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The plan aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil shipping, within seven days after U.S. acceptance.
The proposal is similar to a June 17 memorandum that temporarily eased tensions by allowing free ship passage for 60 days.
Iran wants to lift the U.S. naval blockade, remove sanctions, and get guarantees against attacks before broader talks begin.
The U.S. wants to discuss Iran’s nuclear program immediately as part of any deal.
Neither side has confirmed details about the conditions or rules that will govern the Strait once reopened.
Analysts say Iran will not give up control of the Strait because it is vital for its economic recovery amid the ongoing war.
The previous June agreement failed after a month due to renewed conflicts, and talks have stalled since then.
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A three-year-old boy named Noah Woods died after leaving a playground through a gap in the fence and being found in a nearby pond. An inquest revealed he had been playing with a relative before he left the play area and went missing, leading to a large search before his body was recovered by police divers.
Key Facts
Noah Woods was three years old and non-verbal, partially deaf, and being assessed for autism.
He went missing from a playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, Suffolk on September 15.
Noah left the playground through a gap in the fence and an open gate leading to a memorial garden.
He was last seen on CCTV at 2:37 pm, which only records with motion.
Police were called when Noah could not be found after he left the playground.
His body was found in Decoy Pond by Metropolitan police divers the following day.
The pond’s depth at the location was about 1.8 meters.
The cause of death is still under investigation; the death is not considered suspicious.
Tributes were paid by family and local football players, including a moment of respect during a match.
The inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned for a later date.
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Daniel Thomas appeared in court charged with damaging a boat in the English Channel and not giving his phone PIN to police. He denied both charges and will face trial at a higher court later this month. Some supporters and other activists gathered at the court and outside a police center during the proceedings.
Key Facts
Daniel Thomas is 37 years old and known to supporters as Danny Tommo.
He was arrested after a video showed him cutting a dinghy in the English Channel.
The dinghy had an emergency responder on board when it was damaged.
Thomas is charged with criminal damage and failing to give his phone PIN to police.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court via video.
His next court appearance will be on September 29 at Portsmouth Crown Court.
Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) attended the hearing.
Several hundred people gathered peacefully outside a police station in support of Thomas.
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Xi Jinping, China’s leader, is expected to remain in power after the upcoming 21st Party Congress, likely serving a third term as general secretary of the Communist Party. The article discusses possible successors and the political environment in China, including Xi’s efforts to centralize authority and the uncertainty about leadership after him.
Key Facts
Xi Jinping is 73 years old and is expected to continue leading China.
The 21st Party Congress next year will confirm leadership for the next five years.
Xi broke tradition in 2022 by taking a third term as general secretary of the Communist Party.
Key figures close to Xi include Chief of Staff Cai Qi, Premier Li Qiang, his wife Peng Liyuan, and his daughter Xi Mingze.
Other influential leaders are Politburo Standing Committee members like Li Xi and Ding Xuexiang.
Security officials play a strong role in Xi’s leadership structure, including Zhou Hongxu, deputy to Cai Qi.
Xi recently expelled two top generals as part of ongoing political purges.
Some people in China worry about political instability after Xi leaves power due to his strong control.
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Hurricane Polo is moving toward the Baja California region of Mexico with very strong winds and heavy rain. In India, a tropical storm is causing heavy rain and strong winds in Odisha, leading to flooding and safety concerns. In Iberia, unusually high temperatures continue into autumn, breaking old heat records.
Key Facts
Hurricane Polo had a pressure of 892 millibars on 22 September, making it the second-strongest hurricane recorded in the east Pacific.
The hurricane has sustained winds of about 150 mph and hurricane-force winds extend 40 miles from its center.
Tropical storm-force winds from Polo reach 125 miles from the center.
Polo is expected to move northwest and stay strong due to warm Pacific Ocean waters.
A tropical storm with a pressure of 988 millibars is impacting Odisha, India, causing heavy rain and flooding risks.
Rainfall in Odisha could exceed 200 millimeters within 24 hours, with heavy rain rates over 30 millimeters per hour.
Winds in coastal Odisha may reach 50-60 mph, leading to travel and power disruptions.
In Iberia, Portugal recorded a temperature of 41.7°C on 23 September, breaking decades-old July heat records.
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Scottish MSP Collette Stevenson made a mistake in a committee meeting by asking if Transport Scotland was a charity. She explained the error was due to illness and lack of sleep and said she faced bullying online because of it.
Key Facts
Collette Stevenson is an SNP MSP representing East Kilbride since 2021.
During a transport committee meeting, she mistakenly asked if Transport Scotland was a registered charity.
Transport Scotland is actually a government agency, part of the Scottish government.
Stevenson said she had a chest infection and poor sleep, which affected her concentration.
She took a week off work on medical advice to recover.
After the mistake, she received online ridicule and misogynistic bullying.
Stevenson emphasized the ongoing toxic culture women face in politics.
An SNP minister defended her, calling her a good colleague and local advocate.
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The article discusses the situation in Afghanistan five years after the Taliban regained control. It highlights how women and girls have faced increasing restrictions, and it follows Afghan journalist Zahra Joya, who fled to the UK but continues to report on these issues.
Key Facts
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan five years ago.
Since then, the government has limited the rights and freedoms of women and girls.
More than half of Afghanistan’s population—women and girls—have been excluded from many areas of life.
Zahra Joya is an Afghan journalist who left Kabul in August 2021 when the Taliban took over the city.
Joya now lives in the UK but reports on the challenges faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule.
She co-wrote a book titled "The Vanishing Girl of Kabul" with journalist Amie Ferris-Rotman.
The article is part of a media focus on how journalism continues despite Taliban restrictions.
The situation affects not just political rights but also social and cultural freedoms for women.
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A 23-year-old woman named Haylee Davis bought an old camera for $10 at an estate sale in North Carolina. When she looked through the photos on the camera’s memory card, she was surprised to find a picture of herself as a child, which led to reconnecting with the camera’s original owner.
Key Facts
Haylee Davis found an old Canon camera at an estate sale in Biscoe, North Carolina, on August 1, 2026.
The camera’s memory card contained many photos, including family pictures and outdoor scenes.
Davis found a photo of her fourth-grade class taken about 15 years earlier, with herself visible in the picture.
The camera once belonged to Ryan Houser, who used it from 2012 to 2013 to document his college life and travels.
Houser took the photo of Davis’s class during a presentation about the Appalachian Trail.
Davis contacted Houser and returned the memory card to him.
Houser felt lucky to get back the original photos and shared memories of his adventures with the camera.
Davis shared her story on TikTok, where it gained millions of views and likes as people reacted to the coincidence.
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A large artwork called Re-Union Jack was made by Birmingham artist Clare Elisabeth using old, torn union jack flags from unauthorized displays on lamp-posts. The piece includes the names of many famous local figures and was presented to promote unity during the International Day of Birmingham.
Key Facts
The artwork measures about four by seven meters.
It uses discarded union jack flags from unauthorized lamp-post displays in Birmingham.
The project was inspired by recent flag displays that caused division in communities.
Hundreds of names of important West Midlands figures, including musicians and descendants of inventors, are on the artwork.
Notable names on the piece include Ozzy Osbourne, Duran Duran, and Jorja Smith.
The piece was displayed at the Council House during the International Day of Birmingham celebrations.
Clare Elisabeth led a small team in sewing and gluing the flags to create the artwork.
The artwork aims to show togetherness and celebrate the cultural mix of the Midlands.
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The conflict involving the US and Iran is causing food prices to rise in Nigeria. This increase is making it harder for many Nigerians to afford enough food, leading to more cases of malnutrition.
Key Facts
The US war on Iran is increasing food costs in Nigeria.
Higher food prices are making it difficult for Nigerians to buy enough food.
Medics in Nigeria warn that worsening food insecurity is causing more malnutrition.
Many Nigerians are struggling to cope with rising living costs due to this situation.
The news report is based on interviews conducted by Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris.
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The article reports on recent actions by the United States and Israel that challenge the international legal system, particularly regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC). It highlights sanctions by the U.S. against the ICC, statements from President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East with concerns about accountability for war crimes.
Key Facts
The U.S. has imposed sanctions against the ICC, limiting access to bank accounts, software, insurers, and staff.
President Trump threatened Iran with destruction during a UN speech.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, wanted by the ICC for war crimes, criticized those seeking accountability.
Palestinian officials were not allowed to attend the UN meeting due to U.S. visa denials.
Israel continues military actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and southern Syria with significant casualties and displacement.
The article states that international law is not being enforced against powerful allies like the U.S. and Israel.
South Africa faced U.S. aid cuts after taking Israel’s actions to the ICC.
The article compares current events to past global efforts against apartheid in South Africa, suggesting collective action can enforce international law.
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A recent survey shows that younger Americans, especially Generation Z, are less likely to see China as a major threat compared to older generations. The survey asked about concerns over China’s increasing role in global affairs and found a clear difference by age groups.
Key Facts
34% of Generation Z respondents said China is a “critical threat.”
43% of Millennials viewed China as a critical threat.
Older generations were more likely to see China as a serious danger.
The survey was conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
The research highlights strong differences in views about China between age groups.
The growing presence of China refers to its expanding influence in world politics and the economy.
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A man dressed as Batman chased a thief who stole a woman’s handbag in Norwich. After help from others in superhero costumes and police, the bag was found on a wall near Norwich Cathedral and returned to its owner.
Key Facts
Sonni Mason, 25, was wearing a Batman costume at a friend’s fancy dress party.
He saw a handbag stolen after a fight in a nightclub queue.
Mason and others dressed as comic characters, including Mister Fantastic and Poison Ivy, chased the thief.
They stopped police officers and searched for the bag, which the thief had dropped.
The bag was found about 300 meters away on a high wall near Norwich Cathedral.
Mason climbed the wall, still in costume, to get the bag down.
The bag was returned with everything inside.
Police confirmed the bag was recovered and returned after a public report.
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Noah Woods, a three-year-old boy, was found dead in a pond in Suffolk after leaving a playground through a gap in the fence. A large search involving police and the community took place, and the cause of death is still being investigated.
Key Facts
Noah Woods went missing on 15 September in Brantham, Suffolk.
He left a play area through a gap in the fence and walked towards Decoy Pond.
CCTV showed Noah playing with a relative who tried to follow him.
Police and community members conducted a major search involving over 1,000 people.
Noah’s body was found the next day in a pond near submerged tree roots, about 1.8 meters deep.
A post-mortem examination was conducted, but the cause of death is not yet confirmed.
Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.
The full inquest date has not been set.
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