Thursday briefing: 68 facts about the Bayeux tapestry as it goes on display

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the multilateral system is straining under fractured geopolitics during his opening address at the 81st UN General Assembly. • Guterres cited a combination of nuclear escalation risks, worsening climate chaos, and declining financial resources for humanitarian operations.

• India is attempting to build consensus among member nations at the BRICS summit to overcome deep global divisions. • Harsh V Pant of the Observer Research Foundation notes that India will prioritize the developmental challenges of the Global South to foster unity.

• Harsh Pant, Vice President of the Observer Research Foundation, stated that the upcoming BRICS summit will test India's diplomatic capabilities during a period of global fragmentation. • Pant noted that current wars in Europe and the Middle East are creating geopolitical instability with no clear end in sight.

• The Ministry of National Defense dispatched a local fact-finding mission to the Middle East to evaluate troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. • The mission focuses specifically on the strategic logistics and security requirements of deploying personnel to this critical waterway.

• Former President Donald Trump stated on September 9 that he intends to speak with countries that sanctioned settlements to understand their reasoning. • Otzma Yehudit filed a 39-page request alleging that two nonprofits linked to the Ra’am party, Aid 48 and Humanitarian Deeds, transferred millions of shekels to terrorist organizations.

• Professor Michel Chossudovsky released a video on September 9, 2026, discussing the historical and geopolitical implications of the September 11, 2001 attacks. • The presentation argues that the 9/11 attacks were instrumental in changing the nature of wars led by the United States and NATO.

• Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro publicly criticized China during the Seoul Defense Dialogue after receiving a note from Chinese officials mid-speech. • Teodoro read the note aloud to the forum, describing the communication regarding South China Sea arbitration as actual coercion and bullying.

Retailer says higher costs also hit first-half figures as group pursues its turnaround plan, though Waitrose grew sales Losses at the owner of John Lewis and Waitrose widened by more than 40% in the first half of the year as it struggled with higher costs and with shoppers feeling less confident about their money.The John Lewis Partnership, which operates 36 department stores and more than 300 Waitrose supermarkets, said its pre-tax loss for the six months to 1 August climbed to £124m, compared with £88m in the same period in 2025. Continue reading...

Alexander Csergo sentenced over reckless foreign interference after preparing documents for duo who approached him on LinkedInGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA seemingly innocuous message on a social media platform has snowballed into a Sydney man being jailed for foreign interference.Alexander Csergo, 58, was jailed for three years and six months on Thursday, after being found guilty by a jury in March of helping Chinese spies. Continue reading...

Australia declined to join move by UK, Canada and France in banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements Labor party members have criticised the federal government for not following the UK, Canada and France in banning trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, urging Penny Wong to mount a stronger response to violence against Palestinians.The Labor Friends of Palestine group wrote to the foreign minister on Wednesday, calling for Australia to join a coordinated approach with allies and partners overseas, in line with changes to the party’s national platform agreed in July. Continue reading...

News outlets raise alarm after being barred from media events and condemn offensive comments made by party director James AshbyThe ABC and the Guardian have called on One Nation to reverse its ban of select media outlets from press conferences amid warnings the party is practising censorship and actively avoiding public scrutiny.On Tuesday both outlets were asked to leave a One Nation press conference in Victoria. During the event, the state’s party leader, Warren Pickering, admitted to illegal drug use and drink driving. Continue reading...