US Backs UN Rebuke of Israeli Strike in Qatar
US Boat Strike on Venezuelans Sparks Outcry
Manhunt After Charlie Kirk Is Shot In Utah
Bolsonaro Gets 27 Years For Coup Plot
South Sudan VP Charged With Treason And Murder
Crowded Camps Push Gazans Back Into Danger
NATO Bolsters Poland Defences After Drone Incursion
NATO on Alert as Zapad Drills Begin in Belarus
US Inflation Ticks Up, Fed Still Poised To Cut Rates
US Sues Uber Over Disability Discrimination
The United Nations Security Council issued a rare unanimous statement condemning an Israeli strike in Doha that killed six people, including civilians. All 15 members, including the United States, endorsed the text, marking a departure from Washington’s usual practice of shielding Israel at the UN.
The statement underscored support for Qatar’s sovereignty and urged de-escalation, while Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the Council the attack had “terrorised” residents.
UN Security Council - UN Photo
The strike targeted a residential compound said to host Hamas officials but did not kill senior figures. Israel’s ambassador Danny Danon defended the action, insisting Hamas leaders were the intended targets and vowing there would be “no sanctuary for terrorists.” US President Donald Trump nonetheless called the bombing inside a close ally’s territory counterproductive, and the acting US ambassador to the UN reiterated that stance. Arab states and several Council members said the attack undermined peace efforts.
Sources: New York Times, Reuters
Venezuela has accused the United States of committing murder after a military strike on a boat in the Caribbean killed 11 people. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said none of the dead were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, contradicting Washington’s claims.
He questioned why those onboard were not arrested if drugs were suspected, and alleged that a video of the incident posted by President Trump was artificially generated. Witnesses told U.S. lawmakers the vessel had turned back before being hit, fuelling doubts about the justification for the attack.
The Trump administration insists the strike targeted narco-terrorists attempting to smuggle drugs. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the operation sent a clear message that traffickers would find “no safe harbour.” Critics in Congress, including senior Democrats and libertarian Republicans, challenged the legal basis for using lethal force and accused the White House of executive overreach. President Nicolás Maduro responded by ordering military deployments across Venezuela’s coasts.
Sources: CBS News, The Guardian
A manhunt is under way after conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem on 10 September 2025. He was taking questions under a gazebo before a single shot — believed to have been fired from the roof of the nearby Losee Center, roughly 130 metres away — struck him. Officials later said a high-powered, imported Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle was found wrapped in a towel in a wooded area. Video released by authorities shows a figure running across the roof and jumping down before fleeing.
Investigators released images of a person of interest described as a slim white man wearing sunglasses, a dark cap, Converse shoes and a distinctive long-sleeved black top with an American flag and eagle.
Authorities appealed for public help and said thousands of tips had been received. Utah’s governor said the state intends to pursue the death penalty once the suspect is found.
Sources: CNN, BBC
Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a coup after his 2022 defeat and sentenced him to 27 years and three months. A five-justice panel ruled 4–1, making him the first former Brazilian leader convicted for trying to subvert democracy. Justices said the scheme sought to keep him in power and used methods of a “digital militia” to attack the judiciary and the electoral system.
Bolsonaro and seven co-defendants were found guilty of attempting a coup and four related offences, including participation in an armed criminal organisation and attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.
He denies wrongdoing, is under house arrest in Brasília and can appeal; he will not have to report to prison until legal challenges are exhausted. The verdict drew sharp reactions: US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticised the ruling and signalled a response.
Sources: Washington Post, Associated Press
South Sudan’s vice president, Riek Machar, has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity over a March attack on a military base in Nasir. The government alleges he ordered the White Army, a militia drawn from his Nuer community, to overrun the site. More than 250 soldiers were killed, including senior officers, and a United Nations helicopter came under fire while attempting a rescue, resulting in the death of a pilot.
Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said the crimes involved desecration of corpses, persecution of civilians and attacks on aid workers, calling them violations of the Geneva Conventions. Seven others, including a former petroleum minister, face related charges. Machar has been under house arrest amid a deepening power struggle with President Salva Kiir, his long-time rival. Their fragile power-sharing deal, struck after a civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people, is now at risk of collapse.
Sources: Al Jazeera, France 24
Overcrowding and scant services in Gaza’s coastal encampments are driving some displaced families back towards Gaza City despite ongoing strikes. Arrivals at Mawasi and sites west of the city report no space for tents, limited water and restricted healthcare. The U.N. humanitarian team says Mawasi is not a genuine safe zone, while Israel says civilians should move there and it is adding tents, food, water and medical centres.
Displacement is accelerating: 20,000 people left Gaza City between 31 August and 7 September, with a further 25,000 by 10 September. Local authorities reported strikes killed 11 people on Thursday and five at al-Shati camp. Costs and shortages shape choices: travel south can cost $600–$700 and a tent $1,000–$1,200. UNICEF observed very limited space, with new arrivals setting up along roads. Some families, unable to find shelter, are turning back toward the city.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters
NATO is preparing defensive military measures after Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace, where three were shot down and others crashed, officials said. Allies condemned Russia’s “reckless behaviour” and intent remains unclear, with a full assessment under way. Poland has requested additional air defences and counter-drone technology, and the U.N. Security Council will meet on Friday.
Support is mounting. Germany will intensify engagement on NATO’s eastern border and extend and expand air policing over Poland. France will deploy three Rafale jets to help protect Polish airspace, while the Netherlands and the Czech Republic will send defences, with Prague also offering helicopters and 100 soldiers and the Dutch 300 troops and artillery. NATO’s top commander, Alexus Grynkewich, is coordinating the response and assessing needs, saying the alliance will learn lessons and enhance its posture to handle limited incursions. Poland is also restricting small air traffic along its eastern borders.
Sources: Bloomberg, BBC
NATO is on edge as Russia and Belarus start the five-day Zapad 2025 drills in Belarus, billed as defensive but viewed warily by frontline states. Tensions are already heightened following the drone incursion earlier this week and the prospect of large scale war-games in the vicinity is concerning for both NATO and local leadership. Poland’s prime minister said the country is closer to outright military conflict than at any time since the Second World War.
After Warsaw triggered Article 4 consultations, allies stepped up. Germany will double its alert Typhoon squadron (at its home base); the Czech Republic will send a special operations unit with three Mi-171S helicopters; Britain is considering returning Typhoons to Poland. Poland sealed its border with Belarus and banned night-time flights in the east, while Latvia closed airspace along its frontier for a week. NATO said it is awaiting a full assessment and has deployed extra surveillance to Poland and the Baltic states.
Sources: The Times, RFI
US inflation accelerated to 2.9% in August, from 2.7% in July, while core inflation held steady at 3.1%. Monthly readings rose 0.4% for headline and 0.3% for core. The Federal Reserve has kept rates at 4.25%–4.5% amid caution over the inflationary impact of tariffs and a weakening jobs market, but a quarter-point cut next week is broadly expected.
US CPI 12 month Change All Items - US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Labour data reinforced that stance. Initial jobless claims rose to 263,000, the highest since October 2021, and August payrolls increased by just 22,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised down employment growth by 911,000 for the year to March 2025. Traders continued to price a September cut and a potentially quicker pace thereafter. The two-year Treasury yield initially fell before paring losses, reflecting expectations for easier policy alongside concerns that the central bank will move cautiously as it weighs inflation against slowing employment.
Sources: FT, New York Times
The US Department of Justice has sued Uber, alleging the ride-hailing company discriminated against passengers with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint, filed in San Francisco federal court, accuses Uber drivers of refusing rides, charging unlawful fees, and insulting or demeaning disabled passengers. The department cited cases involving service animals, wheelchairs and mobility-impaired riders.
Examples in the lawsuit include a seven-year-old amputee allegedly denied a ride when a driver saw his wheelchair, a veteran missing a flight after being refused transport with his service dog, and a blind passenger whose rides were repeatedly cancelled. In total, 17 individuals are named. Uber has rejected the allegations, saying it has a zero-tolerance policy for service denials and is committed to improving access. The government seeks damages, a civil penalty, and an injunction to prevent further violations.