Sean's Daily Digest

Burnham opens door to UK rejoining EU, pledges voting reform in first conference speech as PM

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Labour's conference in Liverpool on Tuesday that he would seek a consensus on ties with the EU. He later said the UK could "go all the way" and rejoin, and that ministers will examine what is doable and the pros and cons. He also backed replacing the majority voting system, with a commission to work out the steps, and promised better social care, housing and energy. Sterling rose to a one-month high against the euro after upwardly revised UK growth data and his pledges of fiscal discipline and closer EU ties.

UN Command finds North Korean mine in DMZ blast; Kim Yo Jong calls Seoul's charge a 'farce'

Ongoing · day 3 ↗

The UN Command said a joint investigation with Seoul's military found an active North Korean anti-personnel mine on the South Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line, and that an armistice violation occurred. South Korea's military demanded an apology over the September 21 blasts, which injured three soldiers, and said it would consider unspecified "corresponding measures" if a full investigation confirms the North was responsible. Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, called the accusation a "conspiratorial farce" and warned of "immediate and merciless retaliatory action" if South Korean troops fire at North Korean soldiers doing border fortification work.

Flydubai jet to Tel Aviv lands in Saudi Arabia after reported fight between pilots

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv sent an emergency signal and landed safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. An Israeli official said the signal followed a fight between the two pilots. Israel and Saudi Arabia scrambled jets over fears of a hijacking, and officials said passengers were safe, according to the New York Times. The Financial Times reported a 20,000ft drop, and the airline called it an "incident".

Pakistan and Afghanistan trade air strikes and drones after Kohat mosque attack

Pakistan struck Afghan targets on September 21 and again on September 24, after a September 18 attack on a mosque in Kohat killed at least 31 people. Afghanistan's Taliban government sent drones into Pakistan on September 23; Pakistan says it downed eight. Analysis in The Diplomat says the flare-up ended Turkish and Qatari mediation for now, while a second piece argues Islamabad's own record of backing the Taliban undercuts its complaints about Afghan safe havens.

Somali pirates killed five crew of hijacked tanker before rescue, Puntland says

Somali pirates killed five crew members of the hijacked petroleum products tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces rescued the vessel, authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland state said on Tuesday. Al Jazeera said the deaths appear to be the first at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade. Piracy off Somalia has risen in recent years after falling when international naval operations began in 2011, the BBC reported.

Morocco's king names Marrakesh mayor Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri first woman prime minister

Ongoing · day 4 ↗

King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the long-time mayor of Marrakesh and a lawyer from the PAM, as Morocco's first woman prime minister on Tuesday, after PAM came out on top in the September 23 parliamentary election. A royal decree tasked El Mansouri with forming a new cabinet, which is likely to be a coalition government with other political groups. Her appointment is the first time a woman has headed Morocco's government and only the second time a woman has led a government in the Arab world, according to Al Jazeera, and the second in North Africa, according to The New York Times.

French police detain 440 in school protests as public workers strike over pay

Police detained 440 people, most of them minors, on Tuesday during student protests at more than 400 schools across France, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. Officials said 10 students and staff and 48 law enforcement officers were hurt; Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Wednesday that dozens had been injured so far as protests continued. Unions said 300,000 public workers struck the same day over pay and planned budget cuts, two days before the government unveils its draft budget.

US bans about $1bn of Canadian imports as Navarro warns Ottawa against midterm 'interference'

A US ban on some Canadian alcohol, dairy byproducts, motorcycles and molasses took effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday. The American Action Forum's Jacob Jensen estimates it covers $967 million of 2025 imports, 87% of them alcohol. Trade adviser Peter Navarro said Canada would "pay even more dearly" if it interfered in US elections in Maine or Michigan, without saying what he meant. Prime Minister Mark Carney had "no response", and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada will not apologize.

South Africa summons US ambassador Bozell again over 'undiplomatic conduct'

South Africa's foreign affairs ministry called in US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III on Tuesday, for a third time, over what it called undiplomatic conduct, according to Reuters. Pretoria objected to his recent media criticism of its response to US demands on black economic empowerment, expropriation without compensation, the "Kill the Boer" chant, farm murders and the refugee programme for white Afrikaners. A US official confirmed the meeting but said the ball is "squarely in the Government of South Africa's court". The US has announced visa restrictions on South Africans, and the ANC has publicly rejected Bozell's "Five Asks".

Civilians report shelling deaths in Tigray as fighting spreads amid communications blackout

Ongoing · day 7 ↗

DW reports that civilians in Tigray are caught in the crossfire as rebel and federal forces keep fighting, with communication blackouts hampering the picture of events and accounts describing little regard for civilians.

Taiwan plans $850 million ammunition buy to quadruple stocks for a possible PLA blockade

Taiwan's military plans to spend more than NT$27 billion (US$850 million) to quadruple critical ammunition stocks to 120 days' supply, according to the South China Morning Post. The aim is to sustain combat during a blockade by China's People's Liberation Army. Nikkei Asia separately reports that Taiwan is turning to US technology for sea drones to counter China's large maritime fleet, and that China has strengthened its position for a Taiwan conflict with a mobilization law.

Grynspan leads fourth Security Council poll for UN secretary-general, sources say

An informal Security Council poll on Tuesday placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan narrowly ahead in the race to become the 10th UN secretary-general, according to Reuters sources. Clarín reports she drew 10 votes of encouragement and 3 of discouragement, up from 9 and 5 in the previous round, and is the only candidate above the nine-vote threshold. Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, recovered to second with 8 and 7, up from 5 and 8. Winning needs nine of 15 Council votes and no veto from a permanent member. Results are not official and were leaked.