The US has announced visa restrictions on some South Africans, as Donald Trump’s administration continues to accuse South Africa of discriminating against white Afrikaners. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures would target foreigners who enable race-based discrimination, violence or uncompensated land confiscation policies.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsracial discrimination

The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting South African nationals whom Secretary of State Marco Rubio says promote race-based discrimination against white citizens, incite violence or enable uncompensated land confiscation. President Cyril Ramaphosa says there is no evidence of discrimination against white people in South Africa.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsrace discrimination

The United States announced visa restrictions on certain foreign nationals linked to South African policies it says discriminate against racial minorities or could permit land expropriation without compensation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Pretoria had failed to address earlier concerns. The measures target alleged promoters of race-based discrimination, violence or uncompensated land confiscation, but are not a blanket ban on South African citizens.

United StatesSouth AfricaVisa restrictionsLand reform

The US has imposed visa restrictions on people it accuses of discriminating against South Africa’s white minority. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Pretoria had not adequately addressed Washington’s concerns, while South Africa has repeatedly rejected allegations of persecution or arbitrary land confiscation.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsracial inequality

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new US policy restricting visas for South African officials alleged to be involved in “race-based discrimination” and “uncompensated land seizures.”

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictions

The United States announces visa restrictions targeting South African nationals over what it describes as “race-based discrimination.” Rubio says those responsible for the injustices have no place in the United States.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsracial discrimination

U.S. special envoy John Coale said Belarus will release 25 political prisoners while Washington lifts sanctions on the Belarusian companies Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. The prisoners’ identities and destinations remain unknown. Viasna estimated Belarus had 889 political prisoners at the end of August.

Belaruspolitical prisonersUS sanctionsdiplomacy

The Pinglu Canal, a backbone project of China’s New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, opened to navigation on Wednesday. It will connect western inland goods to the sea, cutting shipping distance by more than 560 kilometers and logistics costs by up to 30%. A mainland spokesperson welcomed people from Taiwan to share the project’s opportunities.

Pinglu Canalcross-Strait tradelogistics

China’s Pinglu Canal opened to navigation on September 16 with multiple national and world records. Located in Guangxi, it links southwest China to the sea, accommodates vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes, shortens inland shipping routes and includes the world’s highest and largest inland water-saving ship locks.

Pinglu CanalGuangxitransport infrastructureworld records

China opened the 134.2-kilometer Pinglu Canal on Wednesday. As a major part of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, it offers inland Chinese regions a more direct route to the sea and onward to ASEAN markets.

ChinaPinglu CanalASEAN markets

China opened the Pinglu Canal on Wednesday, creating a shorter route from its landlocked southwest to the coast and overseas markets, especially ASEAN, its largest trading partner. The 134.2-kilometer canal cost 72.7 billion yuan and links Nanning with the Beibu Gulf.

Pinglu CanalASEAN tradeGuangxiinfrastructure

China’s Pinglu Canal in Guangxi is scheduled to open to navigation on September 16. The project will link inland waterways with the Beibu Gulf and expand the country’s inland shipping network. Construction began in August 2022, major works were completed in May 2026, and project acceptance finished in August.

Pinglu CanalGuangxiinland shippinginfrastructure

China’s 134.2-kilometer Pinglu Canal officially opened to navigation on Wednesday, linking the Xijiang River shipping network with the Beibu Gulf. Built at a cost of 72.7 billion yuan, it can handle vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes and is expected to cut the route from southwest China to the sea by about 560 kilometers. Mangrove restoration, a fish passage and a wildlife overpass were incorporated into the project.

Pinglu CanalGuangxiinland shippingecological protection

At least 67 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in a remote area of Sudan, according to a medical group and survivors.

Sudangold mine collapsemining accident

At least 60 people died when the Al-Zaraa gold mine near El-Nahud in Sudan’s West Kordofan region collapsed. The collapse began on Tuesday after tunnels were dug too close together.

SudanWest Kordofangold mine collapse

At least 60 people died when a gold mine collapsed on Sunday in a remote area north of al-Nuhud in Sudan’s West Kordofan, according to three local sources who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday.

SudanWest Kordofangold mine collapse

Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour was thrown into chaos Tuesday when four supporting acts abruptly withdrew in solidarity with rapper Macklemore. He had been dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.

Ed SheeranMacklemoretourPalestine

All support acts have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after rapper Macklemore was dropped for pro-Palestinian remarks made during a concert earlier this month.

Ed SheeranMacklemoreUS tourPalestinian advocacy

More artists booked for Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour have withdrawn in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was dropped after making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage. The departures include Irish acts Rowe and Lukas Graham, along with Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas.

Ed Sheerantourpro-Palestinianartist withdrawals

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates for the first time since 2023, as persistent inflation and rising borrowing costs worldwide drive the move. That will intensify scrutiny of how Kevin Warsh characterizes the first monetary-policy change under his watch.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflation

Bitcoin is hovering near $80,000 as traders build stablecoin positions that could flow back into the market once uncertainty around the Federal Reserve clears. A surprise decision to hold rates could present a greater risk.

BitcoinFederal Reserveinterest ratesstablecoins

Global shares are rising as investors await the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, with expectations for a rate hike running high. U.S. stock futures have edged upward.

global stocksFederal Reserveinterest rates

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates for the first time since 2023. The consequential move comes less than two months before the midterm elections.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesUS economy

The 10-year Treasury yield is hovering above 5% as investors await the Federal Reserve’s decision. The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates on Wednesday.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesTreasury yields

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise borrowing costs for the first time in three years, despite Donald Trump’s calls for a cut. Persistent inflation is testing Chair Kevin Warsh’s commitment to price stability.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflationDonald Trump

The Kennedy Center will close for renovations after a judge blocked efforts to restore Donald Trump’s name to the landmark venue. Trump said the $257 million in congressional repair funding would be released only if the renaming could proceed, but federal courts have twice ruled that this would require congressional approval.

Kennedy CenterDonald Trumprenovationscourt ruling

Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz is facing growing doubts after the party’s crushing defeat in Saxony-Anhalt. Support for the federal government has hit a record low, while the CDU is polling at just 7% ahead of elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Critics point to Merz’s abrasive communication, lack of empathy and unclear explanations of reforms, but no viable successor has emerged.

German politicsFriedrich MerzCDUstate elections

A news helicopter reporting for NBC Los Angeles crashed, killing three people, including a journalist and the pilot.

helicopter crashLos AngelesNBC News

Messages of remembrance emerged Wednesday after a news helicopter went down in Los Angeles, killing three people.

Los Angeleshelicopter crashNBC News

An NBC News helicopter crashed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, killing at least three people and sending two others to hospital. The crew had been covering a fatal bus collision that killed at least two people.

Los Angeleshelicopter crashNBC Newsaccident

A local NBC News helicopter crashed and caught fire in a Los Angeles neighbourhood on Tuesday, killing at least three people. Reporters were covering a nearby collision involving an SUV and a city bus, officials and the station said.

Los Angeleshelicopter crashNBC Newstraffic accident

An NBC News helicopter covering a deadly bus collision crashed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, killing three people and sending two others to hospital. Aerial footage showed the wreckage on fire near a storage facility, while firefighters put out flames that spread to vehicles and storage containers.

Los Angeleshelicopter crashNBC Newsaccident

A helicopter crashed Tuesday near the scene of a bus crash in Chatsworth, a Los Angeles neighborhood, killing three people. First responders worked at the site.

helicopter crashLos Angelesaccident

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that Canada could become the 27-nation bloc’s first “associate member”. She proposed closer cooperation with Canadian leader Mark Carney on technology, defence and energy.

European UnionCanadaassociate membershiptechnology and defence

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney received a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen raised the possibility of Canada becoming the bloc’s first “associate member” and called for the relationship to reach its highest possible level through closer cooperation on technology, defence and energy.

European UnionCanadadiplomacyMark Carney

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Canada could become an “associate member” of the European Union while delivering her State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

European UnionCanadaassociate membership

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed proposals for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member”, with closer cooperation in areas including energy, critical minerals, batteries, AI, cyber and economic security. The proposal comes as Canada seeks a “unique alliance” with the EU amid tense relations and collapsed trade talks with the US.

EUCanadadiplomacytrade

The European Union and Canada are preparing a new kind of alliance centered on trade and security, according to remarks European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to make in her state of the union address on Wednesday.

European UnionCanadatradesecurity

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during her State of the Union address that Canada will become the EU’s first associate member. Details of the new status remain unclear, while she also proposed an alliance with Ottawa spanning technology, critical raw materials, energy and defence.

EUCanadaAllianceTrade and security

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has appeared in person at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for the first time since his arrest in Manila. He faces alleged crimes against humanity charges over his bloody war on drugs, with his first trial date set for November.

Rodrigo DuterteInternational Criminal CourtPhilippines drug war

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attended a hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, his first appearance at a hearing there in more than a year.

Rodrigo DuterteInternational Criminal CourtThe Hague

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared in the International Criminal Court courtroom on Wednesday, his first public appearance since being transferred there 18 months ago to face murder charges linked to his war on drugs.

PhilippinesRodrigo DuterteInternational Criminal Courtmurder charges