Singapore bans Nathan Law, pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, from entering the country

Today's headlines: in Moldova, the pro-European party wins the parliamentary elections with twice as many votes as the pro-Moscow bloc. At least 40 people are dead and over 50 injured in Tamil Nadu at a rally held by Vijay, a film star who heads a local party. The UN has reintroduced sanctions against Iran, while Tehran has executed one of Israel's “most important spies”. In China, the world's highest bridge opened to traffic yesterday.

SINGAPORE - HONG KONG

Singapore has banned entry - despite having granted a visa - to Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law, who has been in exile in the United Kingdom for some time. The city-state's authorities said his presence “would not be in the national interest”. The former Legislative Council member said he arrived on 27 September to attend a conference.

MOLDOVA - RUSSIA - EU

With over 99.5% of the votes counted, the pro-Brussels Action and Solidarity Party led by President Maia Sandu won the parliamentary elections with 50.03% of the vote. Less than half of the votes were won by the Russia-linked Patriotic Bloc movement, which stopped at 24.26%. Turnout, the highest ever recorded for the renewal of the 101 seats of the former Soviet republic, stood at 51.9%.

INDIA

The police have opened an investigation into the incident that occurred on 27 September in Karur, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, during a crowded rally held by Vijay, a local film star who is now the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (Tvk) party. For reasons yet to be determined, a stampede broke out, causing at least 40 people, including children, to die and another 50 to be injured.

IRAN - UN - ISRAEL

The UN yesterday reinstated dozens of sanctions against Iran after France, Germany and the United Kingdom activated the “snapback” mechanism, reintroducing restrictions that had been suspended for almost a decade. The sanctions target 43 individuals and 78 entities listed before July 2015, when the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) was signed. The measures prohibit relations related to Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, with effects on the economy. Today, Tehran carried out the death sentence of Bahman Choubi-asl, described as “one of Israel's most important spies in Iran”.

CHINA

The world's highest bridge opened to traffic yesterday. The Huajiang Grand Canyon, built over three years, rises 625 m above a river and a vast gorge in the southern province of Guizhou, also home to the Beipanjiang Bridge (565 m), now the second highest. Beijing has invested in major infrastructure projects in recent decades, a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation.

AFGHANISTAN - UNITED STATES

The Afghan Taliban released another US citizen yesterday, following a visit by US envoy Adam Boehler, who mediated the release. Amir Amiri, detained in Afghanistan since December 2024, was released through Qatari mediation and was already on his way to Doha yesterday, as confirmed anonymously by an official source in Washington.

VIETNAM

At least eight people have died and another 17 are missing after Typhoon Bualoi hit Vietnam today, damaging homes and devastating power grids due to the enormous amount of rainfall that is now heading - losing some of its power - towards Laos. Waves up to eight metres high have been recorded. One person died after being submerged by water in Hue, while another was killed by a falling tree in Thanh Hoa province.

KYRGYZSTAN - MONGOLIA

The Kyrgyz government has approved the agreement with Mongolia on the mutual recognition of driving licences, concluded on 21 July during the visit of the President of Ulan-Bator, Khürelsükh Ykhnaa. The agreement establishes the necessary procedures that will allow citizens of both countries to travel without bureaucratic complications or additional examinations.