World News – 26 September 2025

• Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met yesterday with Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi on the margins of the UN General Assembly. Both parties underscored the urgency of establishing a Gang Suppression Force and UN Support Office to ensure Haiti re-establishes security and sets itself back on the path towards stability.
• The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Ken Johnson, who has been serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) since December 2017, will retire from the agency in December.
• South Africans will get fewer days off work in 2026. Instead of the normal twelve holidays they’ll only get ten free days.
• Global icon, Bryan Adams is heading to South Africa in 2026! With a career spanning four decades, countless chart-topping hits, and a reputation as one of the world’s most electrifying live performers, he’s set to light up stages across South Africa with his signature anthems and unmatched stage presence.
• South Africa’s largest online shopping delivery firm has echoed previous concerns that the criminal targeting of couriers is a major issue for the e-commerce industry.
• African Clean Energy Developments and EIMS Africa have combined to form South Africa’s largest independent power producer, Anthem.
• When Jorge Mendes took the reins at Cell C in 2023, he said they wanted to reach 15% revenue market share in South Africa. However, the company is moving backwards.
• The ASK AFRICA Orange Index®, a leading, independent benchmark study in the field of customer experience, released its survey results, voting Discovery Bank the best bank in customer service for the fourth year in a row.
• In August 2025, rooftop solar power capacity surpassed the combined output of all of Eskom’s utility-scale renewable power stations for the first time.
• People in Africa and Europe feel every day the devastating impact of climate change. Yet, Africa and the EU together account for only around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• After being repeatedly condemned as a war criminal by other world leaders during the United Nations General Assembly’s current meeting in New York, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his turn speaking on the world stage on Friday.
• Some 260 suspected cyber scammers have been arrested in a sting operation carried out across 14 African countries.
• In a remote address to the U.N. General Assembly yesterday, Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and rejected any notion that Palestinians would abandon their land.
• President Trump’s warning to pregnant women to stop taking Tylenol, based on his unproven claim that it can lead to autism, sparked widespread concern and many questions about what the science actually shows.
• Mahmoud Abbas has asked UN states to “do right by the Palestinian people” during a speech in which he vowed Palestine would “rise from under the rubble to rebuild”. Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.
• Sudan’s transitional Prime Minister Kamil Idris told the 80th United Nations General Assembly Sudan’s civil war has killed 150,000 and displaced 12 million.
• The DRC possesses substantial gold reserves, yet faces persistent challenges in maximizing their economic potential. Despite being home to Africa’s largest gold mine at Kibali, much of the country’s gold production occurs through informal channels.
• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he stands by his commitment that asylum seekers will not be housed at the former RAF Scampton site in Lincolnshire.
• Jamaica will join the global community to commemorate World Tourism Day, on Saturday, September 27, under the theme: ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’.
• During a brief exchange at the United Nations with President Trump, Iraqi President Abdul Rashid expressed his commitment to engaging in the rising tensions in the Middle East. During his address to the General Assembly, Rashid joined a chorus of world leaders endorsing a Palestinian state — a view both Israel and the U.S. oppose.
• President Trump said Thursday he will not let Israel annex the West Bank, an idea that has circulated among some hardliners in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
• Clashes between rival drug gangs claimed at least 10 lives in the second deadly riot in an Ecuadoran prison in days, police said.
• As part of a new entry-exit system, visitors traveling to most European countries will have to provide four fingerprints and a facial photo at a self-operated kiosk. The information will be stored for three years, with the photo being used for ID verification on later visits.
• Poland’s Andrzej Bargiel became the first climber to ski down the world’s highest mountain without supplemental oxygen, his team said.
• Denmark’s defense chief has called a series of unidentified drones being spotted near airports and military installations a “hybrid attack.”
• Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to prison for criminal conspiracy, over a plot linked to former Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
• Airports Company South Africa has activated a full-scale emergency at King Shaka International Airport.
• A proposal in the Mpumalanga legislature to change the name of the Kruger National Park to the Skukuza National Park has no legal bearing.
• Mayfair Convent School, a private primary school in Johannesburg with over a century of history, will close at the end of 2025.
• Producer inflation in South Africa ticked higher than expected in August, with economists warning that more price pressure is coming in 2026 as higher electricity prices filter through.
• Motorists in 69 SA municipalities are being warned to expect larger fines, shorter discount periods and much sharper consequences for not paying up from 1 December 2025.
• South Africa’s efforts to improve operations at its main ports have gained traction, though the facilities still remain among the worst harbors globally.
• South Africa’s Consumer Confidence Index recorded another decline for the third quarter of the year, driven by tanking sentiment among the country’s middle class.
• Renowned economist Dawie Roodt advised South Africans to pay as little tax as possible, as long as it does not break the law.
• Continuing its stark turnaround and improving operations, national power utility Eskom has hit its best energy generation performance since 2021.
• Nine out of ten fake toys caught coming into the UK this year were fake Labubu dolls, officials say, as over £3.5 million pounds worth of toys were stopped coming into the UK.
• The Artemis II mission is the second part of the Artemis programme, which is focused on returning astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972.
• Researchers have found that Taylor Swift’s accent has changed over the course of her career.
• Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in coordination with international partners, has carried out a series of targeted operations against the militant group Al-Shabaab across the regions of Hiiraan, Galgaduud, and Lower Shabelle, a statement said Thursday.
• Food insecurity is an escalating crisis on the African continent. Many of its most vulnerable people are reliant on emergency aid, which does little to address the systemic causes of widespread hunger.
• Nairobi — A Multi-Agency Security team has unearthed a syndicate trafficking Kenyans to fight in Russian war with a Sh200,000 pay.
• For several years, Nigerian MPs have been blocking legislation aimed at better representation for women in politics. The country’s women – who make up the majority of the electorate – are pushing for a bill that would reserve at least 35 percent of seats in parliament for women.
• The Somali Police Force confirmed on Thursday that an armed assault on Warta Nabadda District Police Station in Mogadishu resulted in the escape of several prisoners detained on serious charges, marking one of the most brazen security breaches in the capital in recent months.
• Namibia has approved the expansion of its Visa on Arrival (VoA) scheme to include 36 additional countries and territories.
• All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has called on Nigerians to stand up against the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, over his allegations against President Bola Tinubu and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
• President Lazarus Chakwera has taken yet another statesmanlike step by ordering the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to withdraw its judicial review on the September 16 presidential election — firmly closing the chapter on legal disputes after publicly conceding defeat.
• The 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report shows a modest global decline in hunger since 2022, with 673 million people facing hunger in 2024, indicating a decrease of 22 million compared to 2022. While progress is seen in Asia and South America, hunger is rising in Africa and Western Asia.
• Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton told the 80th UNGA the Caribbean must remain a “zone of peace.”
• European Council President Antonio Costa says the situation in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe.
• South Korea’s military says it fired warning shots to drive away a North Korean merchant ship that briefly crossed their disputed western sea boundary.
• Mexican billionaire Fernando Chico Pardo says his $2.3 billion investment in Banamex shows confidence in Mexico’s government and economic potential.
• One of Haiti’s leaders is asking for the world to help his troubled Caribbean country fight what he has characterized as a war against relentless gang violence and widespread hunger.
• The government of Madagascar has imposed a nighttime curfew following protests over ongoing water and power cuts.
• Russia is currently tracking two satellites used by the German military, according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
• Typhoon Ragasa has weakened into a tropical depression as it enters northeastern Vietnam.
• The Swiss National Bank halted its easing cycle, avoiding a return to negative interest rates as officials judge the impact of US levies containable for now. Tariffs prompted Switzerland’s KOF research institute to slash its forecast for growth next year on the eve of the decision, but officials know subzero monetary policy brings problems of its own. The Alpine country’s financial regulator touted UBS Group’s crisis planning. In a report on bank resolution, Finma said the country’s sole globally significant lender had workable plans for restructuring and resolution, but to stabilize acute emergency situations more room for maneuver is needed.
• European defense contractors are focused on deals outside the bloc’s eastern flank and beyond. India is weighing French-made engines for its fighter jets as talks over joint manufacturing with the US move at a sluggish pace, we’re told. Meanwhile, Taiwanese drone maker Ahamani is planning to open a factory in Poland; the eastern European nation on Russia’s doorstep has become the island’s biggest buyer of drones. And Germany is eying “offensive capabilities” in space in order to deter the Kremlin. Military spending across the EU is rising, albeit slowly, toward NATO’s new standard of 3.5% of GDP.
• A euro stablecoin is under development by nine European banks who have joined forces to establish an alternative in the market dominated by dollar-denominated tokens. The stablecoin is scheduled to be launched in the second half of 2026, according the consortium, which includes UniCredit and ING. Crypto assets continued their retreat, with Ether, the second-largest digital currency, sliding to its lowest level in nearly seven weeks.
• Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted by a Paris court of criminal conspiracy. Judges handed Sarkozy a five-year jail sentence over funds sought from the government of late Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi. The ruling came as far-right leader Marine Le Pen turns up the heat on President Emmanuel Macron to call fresh elections.
• Electric vehicles are driving European sales, offering some respite for the region’s beleaguered industry that’s grappling with US President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught and pressure from affordable Chinese EVs. The shift to electric mobility is also unfolding in developing countries. From Nepal to Costa Rica, more people are buying electric cars, as battery prices plummet and cheap home-grown EVs come to market.
• To trust or to antitrust, that is the question facing EU regulators. Germany’s SAP was hit by a probe which will determine if the software giant distorted competition for on-site maintenance and support. The company’s practices may prevent its customers from choosing other suppliers offering the services at lower prices, according to the European Commission. Meanwhile, Apple asked the EU’s antitrust watchdog to scrap regulations intended to protect digital consumers. The US maker of iPhones reiterated its opposition to rules implemented last year meant to protect consumers and ensure big tech firms don’t abuse their dominance of internet spheres, from mobile apps to search engines.
• Bosch to Shed 13,000 Jobs as Auto-Industry Slump Deepens
• US Economy Grows at Fastest Pace in Nearly Two Years on Consumer Spending
• Erdogan Visits Trump White House With $50 Billion Wish List
• India Asks US to Allow Iran Oil in Order to Curb Russia Trade
• Starbucks $1 Billion Restructuring to Close Stores, Cut Jobs
• Saudi Arabia Orders Freeze on Rents in Riyadh After Price Surge
• Malaysian Royal Seeks to Sell $2.7 Billion Singapore Land Plot
• China’s commerce ministry has launched a year-long anti-dumping investigation into pecan imports from the US and Mexico. Running until 25 September 2026, the probe could be extended by six months if needed.
• The US goods trade deficit shrank 16.8% to $85.5 billion in August as imports plunged $19.6 billion, while exports slipped $2.3 billion. Economists expected a smaller narrowing. Trump’s tariffs continue to fuel swings in trade flows and GDP growth patterns.
• “Based on latest data provided by Transnet, between mid-2024 and August 2025, vessel anchorage in South African ports went down by about 75%, gross crane moves per hour improved by 13%, and ship working moves went up by 25%.” – World Bank report.
• Choppies is not dumping stores. Despite press reports to the contrary, it has confirmed it is not the company named Choppies Supermarkets South Africa Proprietary Limited which has disposed of a portfolio of retail stores to Shingai Itai Consortium, led by Shingai Retail Investments . The listed Choppies, which is Botswana-based sold its SA ops back in 2019.
• Accelerate finally closed its Covid-19 insurance saga — pocketing R82.5m (ex VAT). After years of legal wrangling since 2020’s business shutdowns, the payout plugs into its Fourways Mall turnaround plan. Pandemic pain, meet delayed payday.
• The MultiChoice Restricted Share Plan Trust offloaded 4.47 million shares for a cool R558.8m as part of the Canal+ takeover.
• Tsogo Sun got the stamp of approval from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board for the relocation of its Caledon casino licence to Somerset West.
• AI Unexpectedly Generates More Work: Harvard Review: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in workplaces is resulting in lower productivity due to employees using them to create substandard output, according to a Sept. 22 analysis published…
• Judge Upholds Trump’s Firing of 8 Federal Watchdogs: A federal judge on Sept. 24 upheld President Donald Trump’s decision to fire eight former inspectors general, despite opining that it violated a provision in the law that requires the…
• US National Guard Surpasses 2025 Recruitment Targets: The National Guard has exceeded its recruiting goals for fiscal year 2025, the Department of War (DOW), formerly the Department of Defense, said in a Sept. 24 statement.
• Kimmel’s ABC Return Draws Over 6 Million Viewers, Network Says: ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel drew in over six million viewers for his first broadcast on Sept. 23 after his show was suspended over recent comments he made about conservative…
• LateNighter reports “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returned to its largest audience in more than 10 years Tuesday night. Preliminary numbers show 6.26 million viewers tuned in Tuesday night, “a staggering figure, especially given that more than 20 percent of the country couldn’t even watch the show due to a blackout by two of ABC’s largest affiliate groups.”
• After 56 years on the air, a California TV station has abruptly shuttered its news operations. The Los Angeles Times’ Suhauna Hussain reports KION-TV, which serves the Monterey, Salinas and Santa Cruz regions on California’s Central Coast, announced it will no longer produce its own local newscasts.
• Silicon Valley investor Michael Moritz says Trump’s H-1B visa caper will backfire and that it shows “the fragile grasp the president and his acolytes have about why the US — especially its technology sector — has worked so well.”
• Dial-A-Poem lives in the digital age, and it’s getting a technical upgrade with a new website launching this week. Not only that, it’s going international, with seven museum partnerships and local phone numbers in France, Mexico, Thailand, Italy, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Brazil so far, with more to come.
• Hegseth directs U.S. Generals and Admirals to convene for ‘rare’ meeting in Virginia.
• Fmr FBI Director Comey expected to be indicted soon for allegedly lying under oath.
• Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s daughter demands mask mandates at UN conference to combat the ‘ongoing pandemic’.
• Progressive pregnant women are ‘popping Tylenol like tic tacs’ to protest Trump’s prenatal autism warning.
• Starbucks slashing 900 jobs, closing hundreds of stores in $1B restructuring move.
• Trump WH replaces Biden’s ‘Presidential Walk of Fame’ portrait with photograph of his autopen signature.
• Dallas ICE facility shooting: Suspect identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn.
• DeSantis announces proposal to set aside land for Trump’s Presidential Library.
• Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted on Federal Charges .
• DOJ Moving Commuted Death Row Inmates to Supermax Prisons: The Justice Department has begun transferring former federal death-row inmates—whose sentences were commuted in the final days of the Biden administration—to what is widely considered the most restrictive prison in the world.
• The nonprofit organisation Embrace Project has taken its fight to change South Africa’s sexual offences laws to the Constitutional Court, claiming that the legislation contains a legal bias in favour of perpetrators.
• Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, is to be represented by Utah-based criminal defence attorney Kathryn Nester. Nester previously represented a once-fugitive leader of a polygamous sect, and was a top public defender in Salt Lake City and San Diego. The state is seeking the death penalty.
• South Korea fired warning shots on Friday at a North Korean commercial vessel that crossed the maritime border in disputed waters off the Korean Peninsula’s west coast. The vessel subsequently retreated, according to South Korea’s military.
• Following a mayday call, a Qantas flight has safely landed at Auckland Airport. Qantas Airways said that a fire alert triggered the pilot of a flight from Sydney to make a mayday call, which was likely a false alarm.
• Winnie Mandela’s birthday is today. She would have been 89 years old.
• In a startling revelation for workers in the automotive industry, the sector emerged as the worst offender in the Financial Sector Conduct Authority round-up of employers who are not paying over employee pension fund contributions.
• Trump’s tariff tantrum just went de luxe: 100% duties on branded drugs, 25% on trucks and a side order of 50% on kitchen cabinets will kick in from Wednesday, 1 October. Wall Street groans, Asia’s pharma tanks and furniture makers flop.
• Tokyo just whipped out a R9.6-trillion ($550-billion) tariff-era war chest, funnelling chips, metals, meds, ships and energy into Trump-era security plays. Japan is betting big overseas – and rewriting the investment rulebook to do it.
• Canada Post just stamped “return to sender” on Ottawa’s bailout fatigue. Workers launched a nationwide strike, halting mail and parcel flows. The government wants radical reforms; unions smell job cuts. Looks like postal problems are worldwide. Insolvency is now in the envelope.
• Donald Trump said he’ll impose a 100% tariff on branded or patented drugs on Oct. 1 unless a company is building manufacturing plants in the US. Imported heavy trucks will be subject to a 25% duty, kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities will be hit with a 50% charge, and upholstered furniture imports are to be taxed at 30%.
• European diplomats warned Moscow that NATO is ready to shoot down planes violating its airspace, according to officials familiar with the exchange. Separately, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Western militaries can’t keep shooting down cheap Russian drones with expensive missiles.
• Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage accused the Bank of England of “appalling” conduct in its efforts to establish “Britcoin,” a digital pound for the UK, saying it represents an overreach of the state into citizens’ lives. The right-wing populist asked about the central bank’s progress in exploring a central bank digital currency in a meeting with BOE Governor Andrew Bailey alongside Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice.
• Former FBI Director James Comey was charged with lying to Congress and obstruction related to testimony he gave in 2020, accelerating Trump’s push for legal action against his perceived political enemies. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
• South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality recorded a loss of R1.58 Billion for the 2024/2025 financial year.
• In the past year, controversial former DA MP Renaldo Gouws has gone from Parliament to the dock in a hate speech case and then back into the hot seat after joining the Freedom Front Plus, a party he has described as the ‘rational minds’ in the Government of National Unity.
• France – The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of criminal conspiracy, and given a five-year prison sentence.
• UK politics – All working adults will need digital ID cards under plans to be announced by Keir Starmer, in a move that will spark a battle with civil liberties campaigners.
• Middle East – The White House is backing a plan that would see Tony Blair head a temporary administration of the Gaza Strip – initially without the direct involvement of the Palestinian Authority (PA), according to Israeli media reports.
• US news – James Comey, the former FBI director and one of Donald Trump’s most frequent targets, was indicted on one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstruction of justice, in the latest move in the president’s retribution campaign against his political adversaries.
• UK news – The crown court backlog in England and Wales has hit a new record of almost 80,000 cases, while wait times for trial dates have reached up to four years.
• A much-loved ash tree on Argyle Street in Glasgow has won the tree of the year competition. The towering Victorian-era tree beat the “King of Limbs” oak in Wiltshire and other majestic specimens in a contest organised by the Woodland Trust. The ash stands 75ft (23 metres) tall on one of the Glasgow ’s busiest roads and has survived war, redevelopment and even ash dieback disease. Locals take pride in its elegance – it has been featured in a book and is celebrated in a nearby pub. This urban survivor will represent the UK in the European contest next spring.
• South Africa’s R268 billion retail giant taking on Shoprite, Pick n Pay and SPAR: South Africa’s R268 billion formal independent retail and wholesale sector is becoming a one-stop value destination for households, making it a growing competitor to corporate retailers.
• South Africa’s last chance to avoid disaster: South Africa faces a critical juncture where, due to state financial collapse and economic stagnation, it only has one option left to avoid disaster.
• Government turns to private sector to save South Africa’s richest city: South African business leaders said they’ve been discussing with the government whether they can help revive the country’s biggest and richest city.
• One South African company quadrupled investors’ money in under two years: Purple Group has had a remarkable run over the last eighteen months, outperforming global tech giants such as Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon.
• Good news for people who need a new driving licence card in South Africa: The department has more than halved the backlog in driving licence cards that emerged due to a three-month breakdown of the country’s only card printer earlier this year.
• Ramokgopa makes big load reduction promises: Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, said he will eradicate load reduction in a year or less if communities cooperate with Eskom.
• An interesting look at Shoprite’s total revenue growth: Shoprite’s non-restated revenue growth has slowed from 16.9% in 2023 to 4.3% in 2025. However, there were big positives associated with this decline.
• Airbnb crackdown in South Africa: A recent court ruling affirms that homeowner associations and bodies corporate in South Africa can regulate or restrict disruptive short-term rentals like Airbnb.
• South Africa has the wrong President at the wrong time: Analysts argue that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s consensus-driven leadership style is ill-suited to South Africa’s deep crises, which require decisive and quick action to resolve.
• Cell C’s big battle with technical insolvency: Cell C’s latest financial results revealed that the mobile operator is not out of the woods yet and has a lot of work ahead of it to improve its financial position.
• Major South African bank to kiss Eskom goodbye: Investec has secured an energy trading licence from Nersa, enabling the bank to expand its renewable energy offerings and supply its own headquarters in Sandton with electricity.
• Former FBI Director Indicted: A federal grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey yesterday on two criminal charges—lying to Congress and obstruction. The charges came five days before the statute of limitations was set to expire. If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison. The indictment stems from Comey’s virtual testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020. Comey stated “no” when asked if he had ever authorized someone at the FBI to serve as an anonymous source about the Trump-Russia investigation to news reports. Prosecutors contend Comey perjured himself with this statement and obstructed a congressional proceeding.
• Scientists find more sea creatures living on toxic sunken World War II warheads than in the surrounding seabed, raising questions about how marine life responds to pollution.
• New Earth-mapping satellite captures North Dakota farmland and Maine’s coast in detail; the joint US-India mission will track shifts in land and ice to help forecasters and first responders address natural disasters.
• US stock markets close down (S&P 500 -0.5%, Dow -0.4%, Nasdaq -0.5%) (More) | US trade deficit falls to two-year low in August, per federal trade report.
• Denmark temporarily shuts down several airports after drone sightings in four locations, including an air base housing F-16 and F-35 fighter jets.
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas speaks before UN General Assembly, puts forth governance plan for postwar Gaza excluding Hamas.
• Microsoft cuts off cloud services to Israel’s military following reports they were used to surveil Palestinians.
• White House directs federal agencies to plan mass firings in the event of a government shutdown next week.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summons hundreds of generals and admirals for a rare meeting next week.
• Department of Justice Sues 6 States Over Voter Registration Lists.
• More Than 1.9 Million Products Sold Through Amazon Recalled Over Safety Concerns.
• Palestine has officially been recognised as a state by the UK, alongside Australia, Canada and Portugal.
• The World Health Organisation has rejected claims by the Trump administration that painkiller Tylenol (paracetamol) is linked with autism.
• Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed the country’s first law to protect children’s rights online.
• Ticketmaster will have to give music fans more advance information about prices, following complaints about Oasis’s reunion tour last year.
• The Frieze London art fair is back with its outdoor exhibition – featuring artists like Elmgreen & Dragset, and Erwin Wurm – filling Regent’s Park’s English Garden.
• Six international authors have made the shortlist for this year’s Booker Prize.
• An international aid flotilla is set to leave Greek waters and head towards Gaza, defying warnings from Israel that it would use any means to block the boats’ access to the war-torn enclave.
• Authorities in Madagascar imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital, after protests over frequent power outages and water shortages turned violent.
• At least three people were killed in the Philippines after a tropical storm, which intensified into a typhoon before hitting land, swept across central islands and southern Luzon, days after a super typhoon struck the north.
• At least 33 of the demonstrators killed during anti-corruption protests in Nepal this month were struck by “live bullets” fired from “high-velocity firearms,” the medical institute that conducted the postmortem examinations told Reuters.
• Britain said it would introduce a mandatory digital ID scheme for British citizens and residents starting a new job as a measure to deter illegal immigration.
• The US economy grew faster than previously estimated in the second quarter amid strong consumer spending and business investment, though momentum appears to be slowing as the effects of tariffs and policy uncertainty start to filter through.
• Trump signed an executive order declaring that his plan to sell Chinese-owned TikTok’s US operations to US and global investors will address the national security requirements in a 2024 law.
• Amazon.com will pay $2.5 billion in fines and reimbursements to Prime subscribers to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s allegations that it deceived its customers to generate subscriptions, the FTC said.
• Starbucks said it would close underperforming stores in North America, including its iconic Seattle roastery, as CEO Brian Niccol presses ahead with his restructuring effort, which is expected to cost $1 billion in a bid to revive the company’s flagging sales.
• Accenture beat fourth-quarter revenue estimates and unveiled a six‑month, $865 million restructuring to realign its workforce and operations for rising demand in digital and AI services.
• As markets gear up for the home stretch of an eventful year, key data in the US and in Japan is due, while the week is set to be dominated by Washington’s trade measures as policymakers from India to Africa grapple with the fallout.
• The risk of a partial US government shutdown beginning next week is rising as congressional Democrats and Republicans hit an impasse over how to continue to fund the federal government.
• French unions will hold another day of strike and protests on Thursday to put pressure on new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu over their demands to scrap his predecessor’s austerity fiscal program.
• Expert explains why President Cyril Ramaphosa cannot make a decision: Political scientist Dr Frans Cronje said that President Cyril Ramaphosa is a consensus-seeker unsuited to crisis leadership, which is hurting the country and his party.
• Warning about new e-hailing laws in South Africa: Experts warn that recently gazetted laws will add to the difficulties faced by struggling local e-hailing drivers, while multinational companies continue to operate largely outside the law.
• Remgro’s R27.7 billion CIVH valuation raises questions: Remgro significantly increased its valuation of CIVH, which has a large stake in Vumatel and DFA owner Maziv, despite the poor performance of the division.
• Big changes for uncapped 4G and 5G on top South African ISP: Afrihost has made significant changes to its 4G and 5G packages, including adding a new high-speed uncapped option on Vodacom’s network for R799 per month.
• Good news for South African passport holders: South Africans can now travel to another European country without a visa, with the country signing a new visa-waiver agreement.
• Name change for Kruger National Park shot down: A proposal in the Mpumalanga legislature to change the name of the Kruger National Park to the Skukuza National Park has no legal bearing.
• Big interest rate cuts on the cards for South Africa: If all goes to plan, the shift toward a lower 3% inflation target could eventually unlock significant interest rate cuts and boost South Africa’s economic growth.
• Government turns to private sector to save South Africa’s richest city: South African business leaders said they’ve been discussing with the government whether they can help revive the country’s biggest and richest city.
• When Elaine Harrison found out about the controversial plan to disband the province’s ‘essential’ Political Killings Task Team from social media, she thought it was fake news, it emerged at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
• Several groups and organisations are planning to march to Parliament in Cape Town in support of Palestine on Saturday. Among the list of demands is the closure of the Israeli embassy in Pretoria.
• Parliament’s National Council of Provinces has officially blocked the Western Cape government’s plans to dissolve the troubled Knysna Municipality.
• The European Broadcasting Union’s members will vote in early November on whether to allow Israeli public broadcaster KAN to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
• Grand Jury Rejected One Count Against James Comey: One count brought against Comey by the government was rejected by jurors. According to court documents, prosecutors attempted to bring an additional charge under 18 U.S. Code § 1001. That count alleged that Comey “falsely [stated] to a U.S. Senator during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that he … did not remember ‘being taught’ of PERSON I’s ‘approval of a plan concerning’ PERSON 2 and the 2016 U.S. Presidential election.”
• Germany Pushes to Unlock Frozen Russian Assets for $164 Billion Loan to Ukraine: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the European Union to unlock up to 140 billion euros ($164 billion) in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine’s ongoing war

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