International

On 23 September 2026, Reuters and other outlets reported new research warning that the developing super El Niño is projected to cause roughly 451,000 excess deaths between winter 2026 and February 2027, primarily driven by extreme heat. The researchers emphasised that the event has already broken multiple historical temperature records before reaching its peak, with intensity and pace of development far exceeding any previous El Niño, posing a serious challenge to global public health and climate adaptation systems.

A Venezuelan man was injured in an officer-involved incident with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel in Austin, Texas, the New York Times reported. The man was transported to hospital and the subsequent handling of the enforcement action has sparked local protests and broad public attention.

US President Trump visited New York City Hall during the UN General Assembly week and held an extended meeting with Mayor Mamdani, discussing affordable housing, the White House press ban, Netanyahu, and the midterms. Both sides sent clear signals of goodwill afterwards, the CNN reported.

The US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Missouri must use its 2025 redrawn congressional map for the November midterm elections, overturning a lower court injunction and allowing the Republican-led redistricting plan to proceed, US media reported.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that California Governor Newsom formally declared a statewide state of emergency in anticipation of an incoming strong El Niño climate event. The El Niño is expected to bring extreme weather including heavy rainfall, strong winds, massive waves, and flooding to the California coast, posing severe tests to residents’ safety, critical infrastructure, and the operation of the economy and society.

The Guardian reported that US President Trump called off a major airstrike campaign against the Houthis at the last minute, after which the Houthis moved to seize strategically significant terrain across multiple parts of Yemen. The rapid shift has prompted widespread international concern about Middle Eastern security, the coherence of US Middle East policy, and the safety of Red Sea shipping.

Powerful Typhoon Dujuan has struck Japan with force, the BBC reported, with authorities urging millions of people to evacuate urgently to avoid the severe impacts of the storm. The typhoon’s landfall is among the more serious natural disasters Japan has faced in recent years.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have filed a joint lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to ban them from White House press areas, the BBC reported. The lawsuit is widely seen as a major test of US press freedom and First Amendment protections.

US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a closely watched face-to-face meeting against the backdrop of a fragile US-China trade truce, the New York Times reported. The summit is an important window into the trajectory of bilateral relations, the outlook for tariff policy, and changes in the global supply chain and geopolitical landscape.

Russia’s ruling United Russia party has secured over 57% of the vote in the wartime parliamentary election, retaining its constitutional majority. International observers raised concerns over procedural integrity, opposition access, and the wartime information environment.