World in brief: September 29, 2026

Middle East / 29 September 2026 Mediators work to broker new Iran-US peace deal 29 September 2026 Southeast Asia / 29 September 2026 Malaysia begins Myanmar repatriations despite safety warnings 29 September 2026 Europe / 29 September 2026 Three Egyptian security officials convicted of kidnapping Italian student 29 September 2026 Latin America / 29 September 2026 Argentina's Milei threatens Britain with legal action over Falkland's oilfields 29 September 2026 Latin America / 29 September 2026 Colombia slaps lengthy prison sentences on rebels for recruiting children 29 September 2026 UKRAINE WAR: Russia fired ballistic missiles and dozens of jet-powered drones at Kiev, Ukraine’s air force said today, as Moscow continued its day and night bombardment of its capital and other cities.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that its forces had hit data-processing centres in Kiev that Moscow says are used by the Ukrainian military, which is increasingly deploying artificial intelligence on the battlefield.

ARMS SALES: Taiwan’s defence minister said today that existing United States arms sales to Taiwan remain unchanged, and that talks are continuing with the US over individual deals.

But a record $14 billion (£10bn) arms package to the island, however, remains stalled.

The minister’s remarks come as concerns mount that US President Donald Trump could halt arms sales to the breakaway Chinese province. China has continually pressed Washington to halt the arms sales.

RESCUE MISSION: The United States Coast Guard said on Monday that it rescued at least 40 people in open waters after their boat capsized several miles from a tiny uninhabited island west of Puerto Rico.

Two people were found dead, with survivors reporting an estimated 60 people aboard, the agency said.

REBEL TROOPS: The head of Ethiopia’s army suggested that neighbouring Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt were supporting rebel troops who have captured several strategic towns in renewed fighting in the north, drawing denials as the threat of a widening regional conflict grew on Monday.

Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, the chief of the general staff of the Ethiopian National Defence Force, on Friday accused Eritrea of mobilising financial support for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.