International

Reuters reported on September 13 that voting in Sweden’s parliamentary election concluded in the evening, with initial counts showing a sharp rise for the far-right Sweden Democrats and the party poised to enter a governing coalition led by the Moderates for the first time. Several major European outlets described the vote as an important signal of a further rightward shift in the European political map, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching implications for immigration policy, EU relations, energy transition and public safety. Preliminary tallies showed the centre-right bloc holding a relative majority of the 349 seats in the Riksdag, but internal disagreements remain significant and coalition negotiations are expected to last several weeks.

CNN and BBC reported on September 13 that an Indonesian passenger ship carrying more than 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea, prompting a large-scale search-and-rescue operation. BBC cited reports that the vessel had 243 people aboard, with some media outlets reporting at least one fatality and more than 100 people rescued. The cause of the incident is still under investigation, with recent sea conditions and weather in the area listed as the initial lines of inquiry.

The Washington Post and The New York Times reported on September 13 that U.S. President Donald Trump said during a two-day visit to Ireland that a unified Ireland would be a ‘fantastic’ outcome, breaking with decades of U.S. policy on Northern Ireland. Key British allies reacted sharply, with some British political figures describing the remark as a geopolitical bombshell for British domestic politics. The Daily Beast noted that the comments came during a particularly sensitive period for British politics and could widen the strain between the U.K. government and the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland.

Fox News reported on September 13 that U.S. President Donald Trump predicted the war with Iran will end ‘very soon,’ likely after the November midterm elections. The same round of coverage noted Saudi Arabia facing growing threats from Iran and its allies, and Iraqi security forces seizing a drone-launching platform used to strike a Saudi oil pipeline. Analysts noted that Trump’s latest comments coincide closely with the recent series of strikes on Middle East energy infrastructure.

Reuters reported on September 13, citing a United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations alert, that a commercial vessel was struck by an “unknown projectile” near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media and Israeli outlets confirmed that one crew member was killed. The incident came less than 48 hours after a Saudi oil pipeline was forced offline by a drone strike and Iraqi forces seized a drone-launching platform, putting global energy-transit security back at the center of international concern. Brent crude futures posted a sharp intraday rally in Asian trading, war-risk insurance surcharges rose in parallel, and Gulf states along with Western consumers began urgent consultations on escort operations and intelligence sharing.

Sustained Middle East tensions have kept international oil prices elevated, with US diesel retail prices breaking through the $6 per gallon threshold. According to The New York Times, geopolitical risk premia combined with supply chain factors have once again made energy markets a focus of attention. Market analysts noted that security conditions around the Strait of Hormuz, the standoff between Iran and Gulf states, and continued disruption to Red Sea shipping have all provided significant support to crude oil and refined product prices.

The BRICS leaders’ summit has opened in New Delhi with Indian Prime Minister Modi as host and Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi in attendance. According to BBC reporting, Trump administration trade and tariff policies form the implicit main thread of discussions among participants, but there are clear divisions within BRICS on how to respond to Washington, making a unified position highly unlikely.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced a lawsuit against an Israeli newspaper over a report alleging that the UAE warned Israel ahead of the October 7 attack.

ESMA has formally questioned the EU operating status of prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi, warning of potential authorization gaps under MiFID II and MiCA frameworks. The move signals stricter regulatory scrutiny ahead for the prediction market sector in the European Union.

A Philippine tourist ferry caught fire while en route to the popular destination of Coron in Palawan province, with five confirmed dead and 86 missing. The accident has raised widespread concerns about inter-island shipping safety, emergency response capabilities, and tourism maritime regulation in the Philippines.