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After the collapse of the final round of nuclear talks between Iran and Western nations, the United Nations Security Council formally reinstated its arms embargo and multiple sanctions on Iran at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on the 27th (8 a.m. on the 28th in Taiwan). This marks the first time in a decade such measures have been reimposed.

In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, Russia, and China, agreeing to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for international sanctions relief. However, the UK, France, and Germany have now accused Tehran of violating the agreement and triggered the Security Council’s “snapback” sanctions mechanism.

As a result, resolutions passed by the Council between 2006 and 2010 imposing sanctions are once again in effect. Several countries had tried, on the sidelines of this week’s UN General Assembly, to delay the sanctions reinstatement but ultimately failed. Following the vote, the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement urging Iran and all nations to fully comply with the Security Council’s resolutions.

With the effective termination of the nuclear deal, tensions in the Middle East are expected to escalate further. The United States and Israel recently carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, heightening hostilities. Tehran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons and warned it would respond firmly. Still, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran has no intention of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and announced the recall of its ambassadors to the UK, France, and Germany for consultations.

The UN Security Council’s official website has already updated its records to reflect the reinstated sanctions. Western diplomats emphasized that diplomatic channels remain open. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Tehran to show goodwill by accepting direct talks and called on member states to “immediately enforce the sanctions” to pressure Iran’s leadership into making decisions that would benefit both national and global security.

A fire broke out last night at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) in Daejeon, South Korea, triggered by a lithium battery, causing a nationwide shutdown of multiple government online systems, including postal services and emergency response platforms. The incident drew widespread public concern, prompting Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to issue a public apology on the 27th.

According to AFP, the center, located about 150 kilometers south of Seoul, is a key national information facility that hosts hundreds of critical systems. Local authorities stated that while the blaze was largely brought under control earlier, cooling and humidity control equipment essential for the servers had been damaged, leading the government to shut down most systems to prevent further harm.

South Koreans received several official text alerts early this morning, notifying them that some postal online services were suspended, and that the 119 emergency hotline could only be reached by phone, with video and text reporting functions temporarily disabled.

In his statement, Kim said: “Because critical systems are concentrated in a single facility, firefighting and recovery efforts are extremely challenging. Processing of certain civil affairs and the issuance of official documents may be delayed, causing inconvenience to the public. I extend my deepest apologies to the people.”

The Ministry of the Interior reported that, as of the morning of the 27th, 647 government online services were offline, affecting mobile identity verification, the National Law Information Center, and the official platform for filing petitions.

The accident has drawn comparisons to the 2022 KakaoTalk outage, when a fire at a data center crippled South Korea’s largest messaging app, disrupting service for more than 50 million users. That incident forced both the company and the government to pledge stronger preventive measures. With yet another fire now striking a national-level data center, public concerns over cybersecurity and infrastructure safety are likely to deepen.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order at the White House on the 25th, officially approving the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations, bringing months of negotiations with China to an end. U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that the deal is valued at $14 billion.

Under this deal, TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance will sell its U.S. operations. A new company will be formed to take over the U.S. business, led and majority-owned by American investors. The new entity is expected to be valued at around $14 billion. ByteDance's ownership will be reduced to below 20% to ensure TikTok can continue operating in the U.S. while complying with national security regulations.

According to media reports, U.S. software giant Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and UAE-based investment company MGX will be the primary investors in the new company, collectively holding a 45% stake in TikTok’s U.S. business. TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance will hold a 19.9% stake, while the remaining 35% will be owned by ByteDance’s existing investors.

During the signing, Trump stated that the agreement benefits both the U.S. and China, and thanked China for its support in completing the deal. However, some members of the U.S. Congress have raised concerns over whether the deal meets national security requirements, calling for the government to release the agreement’s details and submit it for congressional review. As of now, the Chinese government has not made an official statement, and the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. has yet to respond to requests for comment.

According to media reports, between the 1960s and 1970s, the Danish government forcibly inserted intrauterine devices (IUDs) into 4,500 Greenlandic girls and women in an effort to control the population of Greenland. The procedure left some women infertile for life. On September 24, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a formal public apology to the women affected and pledged financial compensation to the victims.

Frederiksen traveled to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, where she stated that the Danish government openly acknowledges its wrongdoing. She affirmed that Greenlanders deserve the same human rights as all Danish citizens. She expressed regret for everything that was taken from the victims, and for the pain and suffering they endured.

Former Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte B. Egede criticized the Danish government, saying that if it weren’t for growing interest and pressure from the United States regarding Greenland, Denmark would not have acted so swiftly.

The report also noted that forced birth control was just one part of Denmark’s broader population policy toward Greenland at the time. Other policies included removing Inuit children from their families and placing them in Danish foster homes for re-education — practices that led to the forced separation of Greenlandic families.

Greenland was once a Danish colony. In 1953, it became an official province of Denmark, gained home rule in 1979, and became a self-governing territory 30 years later.

On September 23, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a fiery speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held at the UN headquarters in New York. Due to a malfunctioning teleprompter, Trump improvised his remarks on the spot. In addition to boasting about his achievements, he expressed strong dissatisfaction with the United Nations and European countries. He criticized the UN for being all talk and no action, accused its push to recognize Palestine as a reward for terrorists, dismissed green energy and climate change as a scam, and called out certain European countries for helping Ukraine fight Russia while simultaneously purchasing oil from Russia.

After the event, Trump took to Truth Social to accuse the UN of deliberately sabotaging him, citing incidents such as an escalator suddenly stopping and the teleprompter and audio system malfunctioning. He used the opportunity to mock the UN, saying, “No wonder it has never fulfilled the duties it was founded to perform.”

On September 24, California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted strongly to Trump’s claim that climate change is a hoax, stressing that such a view should not be normalized. Newsom is considered a potential Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election. California has been increasingly affected by natural disasters linked to climate change in recent years, prompting him to criticize Trump’s actions over the past eight months toward the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including shutting down climate change research units and revoking California’s authority to regulate vehicle emissions under the Clean Air Act.

The Gries Glacier in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, is facing a rapid melting crisis. According to the latest data from the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (GLAMOS), the glacier has thinned by approximately six meters between September 2024 and September 2025, indicating that high temperatures and insufficient snowfall are accelerating glacier retreat.

Experts warn that without adequate winter snowfall to offset the effects of summer heat, glaciers at elevations around 3,000 meters may only have 40 to 50 years left. Between 2016 and 2022, Switzerland lost over a hundred glaciers, and in 2025, the collapse of the Birchgletscher glacier destroyed a village in the south, highlighting the severe consequences of glacier degradation.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that global glaciers have been melting at an accelerated pace since the 1990s, with the trend intensifying after 2000. Reduced meltwater from glaciers in Europe, northern Canada, and New Zealand signals continued glacier retreat.

The United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, and Portugal have recently announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, emphasizing that the move is intended to advance the “two-state solution” and promote peace in the Middle East. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this represents a commitment to a better future for both Palestinians and Israelis, stressing that Hamas must not take part in any future Palestinian government. Leaders of Australia, Canada, and Portugal also expressed support for Palestinian self-determination, saying the step could help move the peace process forward.

Israel, however, strongly objected. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the recognition of Palestine, calling it a “huge reward” in the wake of Hamas’s deadly attacks on October 7, 2023, and reaffirmed that “no Palestinian state will be established in the West Bank.” Israel also warned it could retaliate against the countries involved, possibly by annexing parts of the West Bank.

The United States has taken a cautious stance. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in Washington that President Trump sees the move as “rewarding Hamas” and argued it does nothing to secure the release of hostages or end the Gaza war. A brother of David, one of the hostages held in Gaza, also said that international recognition of Palestine would encourage Hamas to prolong the conflict and undermine Israel’s rescue efforts. Some British Conservative Party members criticized Prime Minister Starmer, accusing him of bowing to pressure from the party’s radical left wing.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the decisions, calling them a return to historical justice and a boost to efforts for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. More than 150 countries worldwide have now recognized Palestine, but its borders, capital, and sovereignty remain unsettled and lack broad international consensus. While the recognition by the UK, Canada, Australia, and France carries symbolic significance, opposition from the United States and Israel, along with internal Palestinian political challenges, has once again highlighted the complexity and sensitivity of the Middle East peace process.

U.S. Conservative Commentator Charlie Kirk Shot Dead at Utah Valley University; CNN’s Van Jones Reveals His Final Message and Calls for Renewed Dialogue

American conservative political commentator and online influencer Charlie Kirk was shot dead on September 10 while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. He was 31. The news shocked the U.S. political sphere and public opinion.

According to CNN, journalist Van Jones revealed that just one day before his death, Kirk had sent him a message on social media platform X, inviting him to appear on his program to engage in a rational dialogue on crime and race. Jones lamented that he had not yet replied before Kirk was tragically killed.

Kirk and Jones had previously clashed over a murder case involving Ukrainian refugees. Kirk argued the crime was driven by “hatred of white people,” a claim Jones strongly criticized as baseless. Their debate escalated into heated exchanges on social media. Jones recalled that he received a wave of racist death threats after challenging Kirk’s remarks, creating a tense atmosphere. Yet amid the turmoil, Kirk extended an olive branch, seeking constructive dialogue.

Jones emphasized that although he frequently criticized Kirk’s views, he never questioned his right to speak. “He had the freedom to express himself, and he had the right to return home safely. That is America’s most fundamental value,” Jones said, condemning the killing in the strongest terms.

On the day of Kirk’s death, Jones posted on social media: “This attack on Kirk is horrifying and heartbreaking. He chose to fight with words, not weapons. Our society cannot allow political violence. The perpetrator must swiftly be brought to justice.” He also offered prayers to Kirk’s family, the shocked students and faculty at Utah Valley University, and all those affected by the tragedy.

Reflecting on his own childhood during the turbulent year of 1968, when violence and assassinations tore apart American society, Jones warned that history seemed to be repeating itself. “Political murder has no justification,” he declared, adding that Kirk’s death should become a turning point for Americans to reopen dialogue. He urged both the left and right to set aside malice and hostility, and instead seek common ground. As Kirk had said in his final message, differences should be addressed with civility — through dialogue, not bloodshed.

The Estonian government on the 19th accused three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets of entering Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland and lingering near Vaindloo Island for about 12 minutes. The incident prompted condemnation from the EU and NATO, which described it as a dangerous act of provocation.

According to Estonian and Italian officials, Italian F-35 fighter jets under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission were immediately scrambled to intercept the Russian aircraft and issue a warning.

The Estonian Defense Forces stated that the three Russian jets had not filed a flight plan, had switched off their transponders, and refused to communicate with Estonian air traffic control. Estonia stressed that such actions undermine international norms and threaten regional security.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart criticized Russia’s move as “reckless and provocative,” adding that NATO had demonstrated its ability to respond immediately to challenges. Several EU countries also voiced concern and expressed support for Estonia’s position.

However, Russia’s Ministry of Defense later denied the airspace violation. Moscow claimed the aircraft were on a routine flight, following a designated route through neutral Baltic airspace, at least three kilometers from Estonia’s border, and never entered its airspace. Russia emphasized that it has “objective verification data” proving Estonia’s accusations are unfounded.

The incident has since escalated into a new diplomatic dispute between Estonia and Russia. Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Russian diplomats to deliver a note of protest and has called on NATO and the EU to strengthen security along their eastern borders.

Since returning to the White House and imposing massive tariffs on China, U.S. President Donald Trump held a second phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 19th. During the two-hour hotline conversation, the two leaders discussed issues including the Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza, and U.S.-China trade, but did not mention Taiwan.

After the call, Trump stated that the TikTok agreement is progressing smoothly and that China has already approved it. However, both sides' public summaries made no mention of specific terms, suggesting that negotiations are still ongoing or that final confirmation from involved companies is still required. China also reiterated that if the U.S. does not lift its “unilateral trade restrictions,” the outcomes of the previous four rounds of trade talks may be affected.

Following the call, Trump posted on social media that he had a productive conversation with Xi Jinping, noting progress on several key issues, including trade, fentanyl, the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and the approval of the TikTok agreement. Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet for a U.S.-China summit at the APEC meeting in South Korea on October 31, six weeks from now. Trump also announced plans to meet Xi in China early next year, laying the groundwork for future bilateral interactions.

As for whether the call touched on the Taiwan issue—a point of public concern—the Presidential Office stated it would continue to monitor and assess the international situation closely.