Bachelet withdraws from race to become UN secretary-general
Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile and former UN human rights chief, has withdrawn her candidacy for UN Secretary-General, ending a campaign that struggled to attract enough support among Security Council members.
Bachelet, 74, announced her decision in an Instagram video, saying she would continue her international work. She had built her campaign around defending multilateralism and international law at a time of growing geopolitical tensions.
Her withdrawal came a day after the third informal Security Council straw poll, in which her support had fallen sharply. Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan emerged ahead in the latest poll, although the process remains open and additional candidates can still enter the race.
The Security Council will eventually recommend one candidate to the 193-member General Assembly, which will formally elect the successor to António Guterres when his second term ends on December 31, 2026.
Ukraine launches largest drone attack on Moscow, officials say
Ukraine launched what Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described as the largest drone attack on the Russian capital region, with hundreds of drones intercepted and strikes reported at an oil refinery and residential areas.
Sobyanin said 450 drones heading towards Moscow were shot down, while regional officials reported at least two deaths and 20 injuries. A woman was killed after a drone hit a residential building in Sofyino, while an elderly man died when a private house was struck in Orekhovo Zuevo.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv had targeted a key Russian oil facility and a logistics site, saying the strikes affected assets worth billions of dollars that support Russia’s war effort.
The attack came as Russia and Ukraine have intensified strikes against energy, transport and logistics infrastructure. Ukrainian officials separately reported nine deaths, including three children, in Russian attacks in the Kyiv and Sumy regions.
Trump threatens Iran as Tehran warns of retaliation
Donald Trump, US President, has threatened Iran with severe economic consequences or attacks on its leadership if Tehran refuses to reach a deal with Washington, as tensions between the two countries continue to fuel wider regional instability.
Trump made the remarks during a phone call with a Fox News reporter, who said the president warned that Iran could face economic collapse or the removal of its leadership. Trump has repeatedly threatened major military escalation since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.
Despite the threats, Trump said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is expected in New York for the United Nations General Assembly this week.
Iran’s military said it would respond harshly to any further attack. The standoff has already disrupted regional energy markets, damaged Iran’s economy and contributed to a broader escalation involving Yemen’s Houthi movement.
Russia’s United Russia party leads wartime election
Russia’s ruling United Russia party was on course for a decisive victory in parliamentary elections, according to partial official results, as Ukraine launched a large drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions.
United Russia had secured 57.5 percent of the vote in early results, far ahead of the Communist Party, LDPR, New People and Just Russia parties. Those parties are represented in parliament and generally support the government on major issues.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a former president, welcomed the result as evidence that voters had entrusted United Russia with continued government.
The election was the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian officials accused Kyiv of attempting to disrupt voting through the drone attacks, which state media described as the largest of the war.
Macron and Carney pledge closer France-Canada ties
Emmanuel Macron, the French President, and Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, have pledged to strengthen ties between their countries amid growing geopolitical tensions and strained relations between Ottawa and Washington.
The leaders met in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory off Canada’s Atlantic coast, during the first visit by a French president to the islands since 2014. Their meeting came weeks after Donald Trump posted an image depicting the islands, Canada and other parts of North America under the US flag.
Carney said Canada and France faced shared challenges including climate change, threats to sovereignty and the erosion of democratic norms. Canada has also been seeking closer relations with the European Union as its trade dispute with the United States intensifies.
Macron said the two countries would deepen cooperation in areas including space, climate and energy. Both leaders also stressed their support for democracy, the rule of law, international law and free trade.
Ten lions found dead in suspected Tanzania poisoning
Ten lions have been found dead in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with preliminary findings suggesting that the animals may have died after ingesting poison.
The lions were discovered on September 18 in the Ndutu area of Endulen Ward in the northern Arusha region, according to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority. Officials said an investigation had been launched to establish the cause of death and identify those responsible.
Poisoning is a recurring threat to large carnivores in parts of East Africa, often linked to conflicts between livestock owners and predators. The deaths have therefore raised concerns about wildlife conservation in one of Tanzania’s most important ecosystems.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourism destination. It hosts lions alongside elephants, buffaloes and endangered black rhinos, making the incident significant for both conservation and tourism.
US gives UN more time to support Somalia peacekeepers
The United States has agreed to give the United Nations another year to wind down its support for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, providing temporary relief to a mission facing uncertainty over its future.
Washington had previously indicated that it would block UN support for the AU force because of frustration with Somalia’s government and concerns about the mission. The latest decision gives the peacekeepers additional time to maintain essential operations.
The AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia relies heavily on UN assistance for food, water, fuel, medical services and troop transportation. The force supports Somalia’s government in its fight against al Qaeda-linked militants.
The extension does not resolve the longer term funding problem. Analysts have warned that a significant weakening of the peacekeeping mission could undermine Somalia’s government and worsen political instability in a region already exposed to insecurity around the Red Sea.
Mozambique seeks new IMF programme as reforms continue
Mozambique hopes a recent IMF mission will pave the way for a new support programme, although the Fund has indicated that further economic reforms may be required before negotiations can advance.
The IMF mission, which ran from September 9 to 18, held talks with Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levi, Finance Minister Carla Loveira and central bank Governor Felisberto Navalha. Mozambique’s finance ministry said a follow-up mission could take place as early as November.
The IMF said discussions would continue on reforms needed to create the conditions for a Fund-supported programme. Mozambique’s previous IMF programme ended early in April 2025, leaving the resource-rich country seeking a new arrangement.
The outcome will be closely watched by investors as Mozambique manages fiscal pressures and seeks to restore confidence in its economy. Its 2031 dollar bond weakened after the IMF signalled that more work was needed before a new programme could be agreed.
South Sudanese migrant jailed for piloting record Channel crossing
A 19-year-old South Sudanese man has been sentenced to two years and three months in a British court after admitting to piloting a small boat carrying 165 migrants across the English Channel from France.
Chan Mathok Atak pleaded guilty to endangering another person during the crossing in an inflatable dinghy. The journey set a record at the time for the largest number of migrants carried on a small boat to Britain.
That record was broken again last month when 230 people crossed the Channel in a single boat. Although arrivals have recently fallen, small boat crossings remain a major political issue in Britain.
The case comes amid continuing public debate over how to reduce irregular migration across the Channel. Earlier this month, hundreds of protesters gathered on Britain’s south coast, reflecting growing tensions around the issue.
US lifts sanctions on Eritrean defence forces
The United States has lifted sanctions on Eritrea’s defence forces and other entities, a move that could improve Washington’s relations with the strategically located Red Sea country.
The Trump administration announced the decision in a notice published by the US Treasury Department. Eritrea’s government welcomed the move, which comes as the United States pays greater attention to security and shipping routes in the Red Sea amid wider regional conflict.
The sanctions were imposed in 2021 by former President Joe Biden against Eritrea’s ruling party, military and senior officials over their involvement in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopian troops.
The policy shift could open space for closer US engagement with Asmara, particularly on Red Sea security. Eritrea’s coastline lies opposite Saudi Arabia and along a strategically important maritime route connecting the Middle East, Africa and global shipping markets.
