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Twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi were arrested in Iran for joining protests against the government in January. Taraneh has been sentenced to death, and Romina received a 25-year prison term; their family has not seen them since the sentencing.
Key Facts
The twins were 19 years old and still in high school when they were taken from their home by masked men linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
They joined mass protests in January against the Iranian regime, which involved millions of people.
After being arrested, the twins were reported to have suffered physical abuse, including hair being pulled out and bruises.
Taraneh was reportedly threatened with the rape of her sister Romina if she did not confess.
Taraneh has been sentenced to death by hanging, while Romina has received a 25-year prison sentence.
Iran has executed over 500 people this year, including protesters from the January demonstrations and at least 16 women.
The UK and 30 other countries condemned the executions, calling them efforts to silence opposition.
The twins' family continues to seek information and has faced threats for speaking out against the regime.
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Voters in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt will choose their state government in an election where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party may become the first far-right party to govern a state since World War II. The AfD is leading in polls, but it needs an absolute majority to take power without forming a coalition.
Key Facts
The Saxony-Anhalt state election is scheduled for Sunday, with the AfD polling ahead of other parties.
The AfD is a far-right, anti-immigrant party led by 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund.
If the AfD wins an absolute majority, it would be the first far-right party to govern a German state since World War II.
The AfD campaigns for deporting migrants, banning LGBTQ pride flags in public schools, and stopping new wind farms.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency calls the AfD’s Saxony-Anhalt chapter "right-wing extremist" with links to nationalist groups.
The state's election is seen as a test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, whose Christian Democrats (CDU) are the second-largest party in polls.
Germany’s voting system encourages coalition governments, so an AfD majority would be unusual.
If the AfD does not get a majority, a CDU-led coalition under current state leader Sven Schulze is likely.
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Australia’s eastern states are experiencing unusually high temperatures for early spring, with Brisbane expecting its hottest September day since 2019. Fire bans have been issued in parts of Queensland and New South Wales due to the hot and dry conditions, while a cool change is expected to bring relief soon.
Key Facts
Brisbane is forecast to reach 34°C, which would be its hottest September day since 2019.
Ipswich suburb Amberley recorded 35.7°C in early afternoon.
Fire bans are in place for Ipswich, the Lockyer Valley, and greater Sydney due to fire risks.
Eastern Australia had its third-warmest winter on record, with temperatures 1.8°C above average.
A cold front recently brought strong winds, rain, and storms to south-eastern Australia.
Warm early spring temperatures set records in parts of New South Wales.
Severe weather warnings included damaging winds that caused accidents with jumping castles in NSW and Victoria.
A cooler, wetter weather pattern is expected to arrive soon, lowering temperatures and bringing rain to some areas.
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A volcanic eruption at Mount Anak Krakatoa caused the suspension of 209 flights at Indonesia’s main airport near Jakarta, affecting over 22,000 passengers. Flights were halted due to volcanic ash in the air, disrupting travel to several international destinations, while no tsunami warning was issued.
Key Facts
Mount Anak Krakatoa erupted late Friday night and continued erupting on Sunday morning.
Volcanic ash in the airspace near Soekarno-Hatta International Airport caused flight suspensions.
A total of 209 flights were canceled, impacting more than 22,000 people.
The flight pause mainly affected routes to Singapore, Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.
Authorities extended the flight suspension until 13:30 local time (06:30 GMT).
No tsunami warning was issued following the volcano's recent eruptions.
The health minister advised people in nearby areas to stay indoors and wear masks to avoid ash-related health problems.
Anak Krakatoa is a volcano in the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra, and has been active since it formed after the 1883 Krakatoa eruption.
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Flames came out of the left engine of a Qantas plane soon after it took off from Queenstown, New Zealand. The plane was safely redirected and landed in Christchurch without injuries.
Key Facts
The incident happened on a Qantas flight going from Queenstown to Sydney.
Flames appeared from the plane’s left engine shortly after takeoff.
The plane was diverted to Christchurch, New Zealand.
It landed safely in Christchurch.
No injuries were reported.
Videos of the flames were posted on social media.
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Yemen’s government forces and Houthi rebels have been fighting heavily in the Taiz and Hodeidah provinces. The government said it regained control of the Hais district and captured many Houthi fighters, while fighting has caused civilian deaths and displaced many families.
Key Facts
Yemen’s internationally recognized military recaptured Hais district, linking Hodeidah, Taiz, and Ibb provinces.
Clashes are most intense in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces and along the western Red Sea coast.
The Yemeni government reported capturing dozens of Houthi fighters in al-Jarahi district.
Yemen’s Defence Ministry used drones and new weapons systems in attacks on Houthi positions.
Fighting has killed more than 60 people, including civilians, and displaced nearly 1,800 families in two days.
Houthi shelling killed four civilians and injured nine others on a road between Taiz and Aden.
The head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council warned the Houthis would face consequences for their actions and emphasized government control over Yemen’s territory.
The Yemeni government warned that any Houthi moves toward the Bab al-Mandeb strait would be met with strong resistance.
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The world faces ongoing wars, rising authoritarianism, economic problems, climate change, and humanitarian crises. Conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East continue, global alliances are strained, and many people suffer from displacement, hunger, and human rights abuses.
Key Facts
Russia’s war in Ukraine has lasted five years with daily violence against civilians.
Conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, and the Middle East continue without resolution.
Several countries and alliances, including NATO and the US-Europe partnership, are experiencing tensions.
President Trump’s aggressive policies affect relationships with allies and adversaries like China and Venezuela.
Large numbers of people are displaced worldwide due to war, climate disasters, and hunger.
The United Nations’ aid efforts are harmed by cuts from key countries like the US and UK.
In places like the West Bank and Somalia, many people face food insecurity and hardship.
Human rights issues persist, including harsh treatment of activists like Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong.
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Travelers entering the European Union may face longer border lines as temporary relaxed rules for a new entry-exit system called EES end on September 6. Some EU countries, including France and Greece, are delaying full biometric checks like fingerprinting due to technical issues or to avoid long queues.
Key Facts
The EU’s new entry-exit system (EES) requires biometric data, such as fingerprints, from non-EU travelers.
Flexibility to pause biometric checks ended on September 6, but some countries are not fully enforcing the rules yet.
France is facing technical problems with EES software, delaying biometric checks for travelers crossing from the UK.
Eurotunnel, Port of Dover, and Eurostar have fingerprinting kiosks that are not operational yet.
Some border officials, especially in popular tourist countries like Greece, are unofficially exempting UK travelers from checks to prevent long delays.
Airlines and travel groups want the EU to extend the pause on full EES enforcement to avoid flight disruptions.
The European Commission is working with member states to fix issues but has not extended the flexibility period officially.
Airlines say that delays caused by EES problems hurt passengers and damage Europe’s travel reputation.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied claims that his government has close ties with Qatar, calling these claims false. He also appeared to justify Qatar’s financial support to Gaza, even though Israel criticized Qatar during peace talks with Hamas about a year ago.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Netanyahu said allegations of Israel’s close relationship with Qatar are untrue.
Netanyahu referred to these claims as “one big bluff.”
Qatar provides funding to Gaza, a Palestinian area governed by Hamas.
Nearly a year ago, Israel criticized Qatar during ceasefire discussions with Hamas.
Netanyahu’s recent comments suggest some acceptance of Qatar’s financial role in Gaza despite past conflicts.
The issue arises within the context of ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar is viewed by Netanyahu as a hostile state, despite current financial involvement in Gaza.
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President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss plans to end the war in Ukraine. After more than three hours of talks, they planned to travel to Kyiv to continue discussions, while both Russia and Ukraine agreed to pause strikes on each other’s capitals during the talks.
Key Facts
Steve Witkoff, a business partner of President Trump, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, met with President Putin.
The talks lasted over three hours and were described as useful and constructive by Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov.
No immediate agreements or breakthroughs were announced after the meeting.
The White House said the envoys discussed "substantive plans" for the next steps to end the Ukraine war.
Witkoff and Kushner planned to continue talks in Kyiv with Ukrainian leaders.
Russia and Ukraine paused attacks on each other’s capitals during the talks.
The negotiations aim to reduce and eventually end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
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Sudan’s ongoing war has caused frequent power outages, making it hard for many residents to get electricity. Some people are using solar panels to get power, but the high cost stops many from being able to buy them.
Key Facts
Fighting between Sudan’s military and paramilitary groups has damaged the country’s electricity system since April 2023.
The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people and displaced about 13 million.
The United Nations estimates the electricity grid damage at $3 billion.
Solar panels are becoming more popular in Sudan to cope with power shortages.
A typical home solar system costs about $5,000, which is too expensive for many Sudanese families.
Some people, like a diabetic woman who needs refrigeration for insulin, suffer serious health risks from power cuts.
Many children cannot study when schools have no electricity.
Hot weather is making power outages even harder to bear for the population.
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The early Emmy Awards ceremony will be held eight days before the main event. Top shows like “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “Pluribus,” and “Widow’s Bay” have many nominations and could win several awards at this early event.
Key Facts
The early Emmy ceremony honors over 100 awards, mainly for behind-the-scenes work.
It takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and covers two nights.
The early ceremony is called the first two nights of the 78th Emmy Awards, replacing the old “Creative Arts Emmys” name.
The shows “The Pitt” (25 nominations) and “Hacks” (24 nominations) lead in nominations.
“Widow’s Bay” and “Pluribus” could each win up to 10 awards.
The early show will air on FXX on September 12 and stream on Hulu the next day.
The main Emmy ceremony will happen on September 14 and air live on NBC and Peacock.
Some acting categories, including guest acting, have been moved to the early ceremony and include well-known actors.
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A fire broke out at a wedding party in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing 22 people. Authorities are investigating to find out what caused the fire.
Key Facts
The fire happened at a wedding party in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
At least 22 people died in the fire.
The fire destroyed a popular venue where the party was held.
Witnesses recorded the fire as it spread.
Officials have started an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
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A wall of soil collapsed at a closed mining site near Rustenburg, South Africa, killing 14 miners, mostly undocumented migrants. This accident highlights a dangerous underground economy where illegal mining of chrome attracts vulnerable workers, criminal groups, and former employees in unsafe conditions.
Key Facts
The accident happened on August 13 near Nkaneng, an informal settlement outside Rustenburg in the North West province.
Most victims were undocumented migrants who work illegally in abandoned or inactive mines.
Rustenburg lies on the Bushveld Igneous Complex, rich in platinum-group metals and chrome.
South Africa is the top producer and exporter of chrome worldwide, supplying mainly China’s stainless steel industry.
Illegal mining thrives because chrome deposits near the surface are cheaper to extract than deep underground mining.
Migrants are recruited and controlled by criminal groups that provide equipment, food, and sometimes explosives.
Miners often work in dangerous, unstable mines and may be forced to continue working until they repay debts to these groups.
The South African government is working to close dangerous mine shafts but has not yet solved the problem of illegal mining.
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Voters in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state, are voting in an election where the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) might win power for the first time at this level since World War II. Recent polls show AfD leading with 40 percent, ahead of the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU), but the final result is not certain.
Key Facts
The election is happening in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern state in Germany.
The far-right AfD party leads recent polls with around 40 percent support.
The CDU, the main center-right party, is polling at about 23 percent.
AfD could win an absolute majority if smaller parties fail to reach the 5 percent vote minimum to enter the state parliament.
AfD’s candidate Ulrich Siegmund was formerly a CDU member and expects a full majority.
If AfD wins a majority, it could govern alone without needing other parties.
CDU leader Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged more effective engagement with AfD’s concerns, despite the party’s controversial statements.
Thousands of people demonstrated before the election in support of democracy.
Election results were expected to begin coming in late Sunday afternoon local time.
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Temperatures in parts of the UK could reach up to 28°C (82°F) on Sunday due to warm air coming from southern Europe. This brief warm spell follows a period of very hot weather in countries like Spain and France, where some areas have seen temperatures above 40°C.
Key Facts
A southerly wind will bring hot and humid air from continental Europe to the UK on Sunday.
South-east England may see temperatures as high as 27-28°C, while other parts of England and Wales will be in the mid-20s Celsius.
Southern and central Europe, especially Spain and France, have experienced intense heat, with Spain reaching a high of 45.7°C recently.
Northern and western parts of the UK will see rain and strong winds, especially in north-west Scotland.
The warm temperatures in the UK will be short-lived, with cooler weather and rain expected by Tuesday.
Early September average temperatures in the UK range from 15 to 21°C across the country.
By Wednesday, weather is expected to be more settled but cooler, with another brief warm period possible.
The warm weather in Europe is due to high pressure building from the south.
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Ukraine’s defense adviser Serhii Beskrestnov warned that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is causing severe damage to both countries’ cities and infrastructure, with no clear winner. He highlighted the risks to civilians, especially in Kyiv during winter, and explained Ukraine’s plans to increase drone attacks against Russian targets.
Key Facts
The war between Russia and Ukraine involves long-range missile and drone strikes targeting cities and infrastructure.
Both countries have damaged each other's economies and infrastructure significantly.
Beskrestnov urged evacuation of elderly people in Kyiv in case Russian strikes cut off energy supplies during winter.
Ukraine plans to launch up to 1,000 drone attacks per night on Russian economic and military targets.
Russia is producing over 100 high-speed ballistic missiles each month to target Ukraine’s electricity and heating systems.
Ukraine lacks enough US Patriot missile interceptors to fully defend against these missile attacks.
Kyiv’s defender described the war as a "war of cities" with increasing risks to civilians far from the frontlines.
Russia announced plans for mass strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities, prolonging the conflict.
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Flights were stopped at Indonesia’s main airport near Jakarta because volcanic ash from the Anak Krakatau volcano was detected over the city. The airport paused operations to keep travelers safe while the volcano continues erupting and releasing ash into the air.
Key Facts
Flights at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were suspended until 1:30pm local time due to volcanic ash.
Anak Krakatau began erupting late Friday, with lava fountains and loud sounds heard hundreds of miles away.
Volcanic ash was detected at heights up to 15,000 meters above parts of Indonesia, affecting flight safety.
Earlier flight suspensions affected 33 flights, including several international cancellations and delays.
Airport officials confirmed volcanic ash presence after safety tests, leading to extended flight suspensions.
Airlines like Singapore Airlines canceled and delayed flights to and from Jakarta because of the eruption.
Indonesia’s disaster agency said there is no immediate risk of tsunami from this eruption.
Anak Krakatau formed in the 1920s in the area left by the massive 1883 Krakatoa eruption, which was very deadly.
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Since 2023, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed nearly 9,000 people and injured over 30,000, according to Lebanese health officials. Despite two US-brokered peace agreements in 2026, violence and military actions by Israel, including air strikes and occupation in southern Lebanon, have continued.
Key Facts
Israeli attacks from October 2023 to September 2026 caused 8,920 deaths and 30,595 injuries in Lebanon.
Since March 2, 2026, there were 4,358 deaths and 12,359 injuries reported.
There have been 179 Israeli attacks on ambulance crews since March 2, killing 135 healthcare workers.
On March 2, 2026, Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon after a Hezbollah rocket hit northern Israel.
About 360,000 people remained displaced by the conflict as of August 2026, with at least 22,000 living in shelters.
Israeli forces have occupied southern Lebanon since March 2026, creating a buffer zone.
Two US-brokered peace agreements signed in June 2026 have not stopped violence, partly because Hezbollah rejected conditions tied to disarmament.
Recent Israeli attacks included strikes on towns in southern Lebanon and targeting tunnels near a strategic bridge.
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Two US envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss plans for ending the war in Ukraine. They are now traveling to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian leaders as efforts to resolve the conflict continue.
Key Facts
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Putin for three hours in Moscow on Saturday.
The talks covered ending the war, economic cooperation, and key issues behind the conflict.
Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky agreed to pause attacks on their capitals for three days.
Ukrainian officials have expressed readiness for detailed peace talks.
Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, mainly territory seized in 2022.
Ukraine’s airspace is closed, so travel routes for the envoys from Moscow to Kyiv are unclear.
Recent months have seen more missile and drone attacks from Russia and Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure.
A formal announcement about next steps is expected in the coming weeks.
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