The US political landscape is dominated by Trump administration pressures leading to a US attorney's resignation, ongoing discussions around a TikTok deal with China, a looming government shutdown due to healthcare cuts, and fierce debates over free speech following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show, amidst ICE protests and passport policy changes.

• US attorney inquiring into alleged Letitia James fraud resigns amid pressure from Trump officials — The Guardian -
• Attorney investigating Trump critics set to resign, reports say, shortly after president calls for him to be sacked – US politics live — The Guardian -
• How China Is Using a TikTok Deal to Court Trump — New York Times World -

• Federal agents use teargas and pepper balls to break up Chicago Ice protest — The Guardian -
• Trump and China Suggest TikTok Deal Could Move Ahead in Vague Statements — New York Times World -
• Trump says Xi Jinping has agreed to approve TikTok deal, but details unclear — The Guardian -
• Trump Administration Will End Deportation Protections for Thousands of Syrians — New York Times World -
• Judge strikes down 'superfluous' Trump lawsuit against the New York Times — BBC World -
• White House asks supreme court to halt judge’s order on passport sex markers for trans people — The Guardian -
• Democrats reject spending bill over healthcare cuts as shutdown looms — The Guardian -
• Man arrested by Ice dies in jail cell in Long Island, New York — The Guardian -
• US TV hosts back Kimmel as Trump threatens networks — BBC World -
• US House passes resolution to honor Charlie Kirk as ‘courageous patriot’ — The Guardian -
• RFK Jr’s vaccine panel drops plan for vote on newborn hepatitis B shots — The Guardian -
• Texas A&M University president resigns after ‘gender ideology’ controversy — The Guardian -
• Threatening Broadcasters, Trump Takes a Page From the World’s Autocrats — New York Times World -
• Trump says Xi approves of TikTok deal as leaders plan South Korea meeting — BBC World -
• Josh Shapiro and Pete Buttigieg respond to revelations in Kamala Harris’s book — The Guardian -
• Minister rejects Trump's call for military to tackle illegal migration — BBC World -
• Trump mega-donor privately mocked his claim to have upper hand with China — The Guardian -
• New York lawmakers arrested for blocking Ice access to federal building — The Guardian -
• Dozens of workers disciplined after Charlie Kirk shooting, from journalists to Jimmy Kimmel — The Guardian -
• Revealed: US law enforcement claimed emojis could signal Tren de Aragua affiliation — The Guardian -
• A US neo-Nazi fight club is using Charlie Kirk’s killing to recruit new members — The Guardian -
• ‘Angry and disappointed’: Kamala Harris critical of Joe Biden in new book — The Guardian -
• DC Democrat challenges long-serving House delegate amid age concerns — The Guardian -
• Americans are ‘deer in the headlights’ in face of Trump assault on free speech, Maria Ressa tells Jon Stewart — The Guardian -
• Trump says TV networks opposed to him should 'maybe' lose licence — BBC World -
• Senior minister brushes off Trump’s advice to use military to control UK borders — The Guardian -
• For comedians around the world, the laughs often end as democracy fades — The Guardian -
• Friday briefing: Special relationships, unlikely ‘friendships’ – Trump’s state visit beyond the cliches — The Guardian -
• Flattery and Flourish for Trump. For His U.K. Hosts, Relief at Avoiding Strife. — New York Times World -
• Late night hosts condemn Trump administration – as it happened — The Guardian -
• What does Donald Trump think free speech means? – podcast — The Guardian -
• Late-night show hosts decry suspension of Kimmel’s show: ‘Blatant assault on freedom of speech’ — The Guardian -
• Hundreds protest outside Disney HQ over ‘un-American’ Kimmel suspension — The Guardian -
• Trump and Starmer, Skirting Differences, Praise Each Other in U.K. — New York Times World -
• Trump suggests punishing TV networks for ‘negative’ coverage amid outrage over Kimmel suspension — The Guardian -
• Climate Activists Argue 3 Executive Orders Violate Their Constitutional Rights — New York Times World -

Geopolitical tensions are high with Russia's airspace violation in Estonia prompting NATO consultation and new EU sanctions against Russia, while the Israel-Gaza conflict continues with high civilian casualties and a deadly missile strike occurred on a mosque in Sudan, and the Taliban released a British couple but rebuffed Trump's airbase plans and banned books by women from Afghan universities.

• Nato intercepts Russian fighter jets on ‘reckless’ violation of Estonian airspace — The Guardian -
• Estonia seeks Nato consultation after Russian jets violate airspace — BBC World -
• In Mexico, New Mothers Are Seeking Out Old Rituals — New York Times World -

• Estonia requests Nato article 4 consultation after ‘unacceptable’ violation of its airspace by Russian MiG-31s – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Dozens Killed in Missile Strike on Sudan Mosque: ‘Harrowing Beyond Description’ — New York Times World -
• Battered but Undefeated, Hamas Remains a Fighting Force in Gaza — New York Times World -
• Taliban Releases British Couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, Detained for Months in Afghanistan — New York Times World -
• Russian Fighter Jets Enter Airspace of Estonia, a NATO Member — New York Times World -
• Taliban Rebuffs Trump’s Effort to Regain Air Base in Afghanistan — New York Times World -
• Taliban Bans Books by Women in Afghanistan’s Universities — New York Times World -
• UN votes to allow Palestinian president to address annual gathering via video link — The Guardian -
• Israel army says it will use ‘unprecedented force’ in Gaza City and urges residents to leave – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Civilians made up 15 of every 16 people killed by Israel in Gaza since March, data suggests — The Guardian -
• Suspect in 1982 Attack on Jewish Deli in Paris Is Arrested by Palestinian Authorities — New York Times World -
• Scores killed by RSF drone strike on mosque in besieged Sudanese city — The Guardian -
• British couple freed by Taliban hug daughter in emotional reunion — BBC World -
• Drone strike on Sudan mosque kills 78, medic tells BBC — BBC World -
• Watch: Hugs on tarmac as family reunite after Afghan ordeal — BBC World -
• Drones vs. Lasers — New York Times World -
• How China Stands to Gain as the U.S. Steps Away From the U.N. — New York Times World -
• Family tell of ‘immense joy’ at release of British couple detained in Afghanistan — The Guardian -
• Europe Announces New Sanctions to Ramp Up Pressure on Russia — New York Times World -
• Outgoing MI6 chief says Putin has ‘bitten off more than he can chew’ in Ukraine — The Guardian -
• Taliban official dismisses Trump's hope to 'take back' Afghan airbase — BBC World -
• MI6 launches dark web portal to attract spies in Russia — BBC World -
• MI6 launches dark web portal to attract spies in Russia — BBC World -
• China, India and Belarus line up for Russia’s rival version of Eurovision — The Guardian -
• Still Divided, a Syrian City Ruined in War Edges Back to Life — New York Times World -
• Still Divided, a Syrian City Ruined in War Edges Back to Life — New York Times World -
• Autocrats Move Quickly to Fill Void as Trump Retreats From U.N. — New York Times World -
• Taliban ban books written by women from Afghan universities — BBC World -
• Taliban ban books written by women from Afghan universities — BBC World -
• US blocks UN call for Gaza ceasefire for sixth time — BBC World -
• China issues warning to Papua New Guinea over defence deal with Australia — The Guardian -
• ‘Cricket diplomacy’ collapses as India-Pakistan hostility enters field of play — The Guardian -
• Leaders of Canada and Mexico Talk Trade and Security Without Trump — New York Times World -

The UK faces several domestic challenges including Labour ruling out Palestine motions at its conference, a Scottish minister's resignation following an assault accusation, disputes in a new leftwing party, progress on an assisted dying bill, new proposals for Troubles legacy, and serious concerns regarding the Probation Service's assessment of offenders risky to women.

• Labour rules against dozens of motions about Palestine being debated at party conference — The Guardian -
• Scottish minister Jamie Hepburn quits after Douglas Ross assault accusation — The Guardian -
• ‘Good at self-sabotage’: people react to Corbyn and Sultana row in new leftwing party — The Guardian -

• Assisted dying bill gets second reading in Lords, but with peers also setting up select committee to review it – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Swiss theatre director told to withdraw book alleging Austrian politician mocked Holocaust victims — The Guardian -
• Reform UK suspends councillor linked to account calling for Starmer’s death — The Guardian -
• Scrapping of two-child benefit cap closer as Bridget Phillipson attacks ‘spiteful’ policy — The Guardian -
• Assisted dying bill to get further scrutiny by Lords committee — The Guardian -
• Hilary Benn: Troubles legacy agreement will deal with ‘unfinished business’ — The Guardian -
• Judge quashes Home Office’s decision on US extradition of vulnerable man — The Guardian -
• First students evacuated from Gaza to study in UK — BBC World -
• Car insurers to pay 270,000 drivers share of £200m compensation — The Guardian -
• Two ambulance trust staff arrested after deaths of six people in Wiltshire — The Guardian -
• Newly retired UK teachers ‘sick with worry’ after delays in pension payments — The Guardian -
• UK households put a record £103bn into Isas amid ‘dash for cash’ — The Guardian -
• British and Irish governments to present new Troubles legacy proposals — The Guardian -
• Girl, nine, shot with airgun in ‘racially aggravated assault’ in Bristol — The Guardian -
• Met investigates racist graffiti found in staff area at its own police station — The Guardian -
• Digested week: Return of the cassette tape … and maybe the dodo — The Guardian -
• Ministers tell Environment Agency to wave planning applications through — The Guardian -
• Partner at top libel firm hired ‘in furtherance of fraud’, tribunal rules — The Guardian -
• Probation Service failing to assess thousands who pose risk to women, watchdog says — The Guardian -
• Sikh groups offer £10k reward for information after alleged rape in West Midlands — The Guardian -
• Train named Ctrl Alt Deleaf to help blast billions of leaves from Great Britain’s tracks — The Guardian -
• Retail sales rise in Great Britain as warm weather boosts clothing purchases — The Guardian -
• Eritrean man is second to be deported to France under UK’s ‘one in, one out’ deal — The Guardian -
• UK borrowing rises to worse-than-expected £18bn in August — The Guardian -
• Reform UK receives £100,000 donation from design firm that faced winding-up petition — The Guardian -
• Ten new wild swimming locations should be created in London, report says — The Guardian -
• TfL says persistent offenders owe more than £700m in Ulez fines — The Guardian -

Australia is grappling with a projected **50% plunge in coal and gas export value, the deaths of three people due to Optus network outage impacting emergency calls, concerns over anti-immigration campaigns, potential missed green energy savings for renters, and industrial action threatening Sydney's metro services**.

• Value of Australia’s coal and gas exports will plunge 50% in five years, treasury modelling forecasts — The Guardian -
• Eight-week-old baby among three people who died when triple zero calls failed during Optus network upgrade — The Guardian -
• Liberal MPs speak up about ‘disturbing’ Advance campaign against ‘mass immigration’ — The Guardian -

• Australia’s renters may miss out on green energy savings enjoyed by ‘well-off’ homeowners, expert says — The Guardian -
• Optus CEO says three people died after triple zero calls affected during network upgrade – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Ausgrid slashes safety inspectors after report finds cheaper to pay permanent disability injury compensation — The Guardian -
• Doctor who called Erin Patterson ‘crazy bitch’ after treating her penalised for speaking about case — The Guardian -
• Sussan Ley says she ‘misspoke’ after comments that Coalition doesn’t believe in setting climate targets — The Guardian -
• Sydney commuters face more disruption as metro workers to vote on industrial action — The Guardian -
• Seven teenagers charged with murder after stabbing deaths of two boys in Melbourne — The Guardian -
• Convicted rapist Gareth Ward argues he should receive lighter sentence due to ‘enormous fall from grace’ — The Guardian -
• Doctor penalised for calling mushroom murderer 'disturbed sociopath' — BBC World -

Significant global developments include a landmark treaty to protect ocean life clearing its final hurdle, deaths from flesh-eating bacteria in Louisiana, the EPA holding polluters accountable for 'forever chemicals', and Republicans attempting to weaken military PFAS pollution protections, while North Dakota experienced a record tornado outbreak and Bali banned new construction after deadly flooding.

• Hard-Fought Treaty to Protect Ocean Life Clears a Final Hurdle — New York Times World -
• Louisiana reports five deaths from flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters — The Guardian -
• E.P.A. Keeps Polluters on the Hook to Clean Up ‘Forever Chemicals’ — New York Times World -

• She’s Starting a Blood Bank for Zoos — New York Times World -
• Red squirrel population thriving on Isle of Wight and could almost double, study finds — The Guardian -
• Republicans try to gut protections against US military’s Pfas pollution — The Guardian -
• Kenya’s Turkana people genetically adapted to live in harsh environment, study suggests — The Guardian -
• Weather tracker: Tornado outbreak shatters North Dakota’s yearly record — The Guardian -
• Bali to block new hotels and restaurants after deadly flooding raises questions about mass tourism — The Guardian -
• How Kenyan Villagers Saved Their Sacred Caves From a Mining Company — New York Times World -
• How Kenyan Villagers Saved Their Sacred Caves From a Mining Company — New York Times World -

Notable social stories include the tragic death of Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James in a plane crash, the discovery of a missing teenager's body in a Tesla, a UK Snapchat predator being jailed, concerns over policing of Venezuelan gangs in the US, and Amsterdam's novel approach to waste management by removing litter bins.

• Brett James, Grammy-winning songwriter, dies in plane crash — The Guardian -
• UK Snapchat predator jailed for 14 years for raping girl, 12, and exploiting dozens of others — The Guardian -
• Man dies after falling from hot air balloon in West Sussex — The Guardian -

• Morrissey cancels two US shows over ‘credible threat on his life’ — The Guardian -
• Body found in Tesla reportedly owned by singer d4vd that of missing teenager — The Guardian -
• Amsterdam’s answer to its rubbish crisis? Remove some of the litter bins — The Guardian -
• Death of Black Mississippi student ruled a suicide after autopsy — The Guardian -
• South African hospital worker arrested with human placentas — BBC World -
• South African hospital worker arrested with human placentas — BBC World -
• The Plot to Free the Nuns — New York Times World -
• The lonely life and death of Delhi's only African elephant — BBC World -
• Mass protest expected in Philippines capital amid public fury over alleged corruption in government projects — The Guardian -