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Stockholm (AFP) – “The erosion of the rule of law in the US is having spillover effects” around the world, says Kevin Casas-Zamora, chief of the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), as the leading thinktank releases its latest report on democratic health. Echoing the report, Casas-Zamora warns of “a global explosion of what I would call election denialism,” and points to “the current president of the United States” as a major catalyst in the phenomenon.

Beijing (AFP) – China urges the United States to “stop preparing for war in outer space,” after the US Space Force confirmed it has deployed weapons into orbit for the first time. In a statement, the US Space Force said the equipment deployed could defend “against hostile adversary actions,” without providing specifics on the weapons. Beijing opposes “the weaponisation of outer space,” says foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.

Kinshasa (AFP) – Clad in blue overalls and yellow boots, former gang members have been drafted in as street-sweepers in Kinshasa, the sprawling capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The “kuluna” — or youth gang — members are working as part of the paramilitary National Service, which was enlisted in cleaning operations by President Felix Tshisekedi in May. Their presence, while welcomed by many residents, has also sparked concerns among observers who see risks in the increased presence of paramilitary-aligned personnel on the streets ahead of planned political protests.

Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Quirky horror series “Widow’s Bay” cleans up at the Emmys, setting a new record for the most awards won by a comedy in a single year, as gritty hospital show “The Pitt” takes home best drama again.

Sanaa (AFP) – Yemen’s Houthis say they fired dozens of drones and ballistic missiles at military targets in Saudi Arabia, “including warplane hangars, radars, runways, ammunition depots at other targets” at an air base in the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait. The group — which has been engaged in renewed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces since Yemen’s civil war reignited in July — says the attack was in retaliation for airstrikes by Riyadh.

Stockholm (AFP) – Sweden is facing political uncertainty after an election that has given the country’s left-wing opposition a slim lead with votes still left to count. The left-wing bloc’s leader, Magdalena Andersson, and outgoing conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have both said they want to explore coalition options, but both would have to stomach major concessions to obtain a majority. “I was hoping for a clear result,” says Sandra Sarin, commuting in Stockholm, who the razor-edge result has left “kind of sad.” Another resident in Sweden’s capital, Mikko Duvaldt, says “it’s going to be a tough situation for each side to form a government.”

(AFP) – The tiny Greek island of Atokos has it all: guaranteed sun, turquoise waters and hundreds of friendly black pigs. Sometimes known as ‘Piggy Island’, Atokos has — via the wonders of social media — become a unique tourist sensation, with its pig population swimming and sunbathing alongside human visitors. “It’s unusual, that’s for sure,” says Mary Patience, a tourist from Scotland, who adds “it’s really nice.”

Geneva (AFP) – United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk calls for “urgent action” to rein in “frontier” artificial intelligence, warning that the technology poses “unprecedented risks.” Turk’s comments come amid a flurry of concern over the risks posed by AI, with employees at the firm Anthropic expressing fears that the technology could escape human control, and CEOs Dario Amodei, Sam Altman and Elon Musk all showing support for a coordinated slowdown in development. Unregulated AI poses “existential risks to every aspect of our lives,” Turk adds.

Seoul (AFP) – Home to some of the world’s leading technology companies, South Korea also has one of the starkest digital divides; an age gap in tech literacy that risks leaving some senior citizens stranded. In an effort to tackle this, the government organises training for older Koreans, with lessons on online shopping, using AI and interacting with everyday technology. “There were times when I felt so baffled,” says 70-year-old Yoon Bok-soon, one of those taking part in a session at a senior community centre south of Seoul. While rapidly embracing modern technology, South Korea is also a fast-ageing society, with more than 20 percent of its 52 million people aged over 65.

Saptari (Nepal) (AFP) – Sanjay Sah is welcomed home by family and friends after surviving in darkness inside a flooded tunnel in Nepal for 10 days, drinking muddy water and losing all sense of time as he desperately prayed for rescue. Sah was among hundreds of workers at a series of hydropower projects hit by the catastrophic August 26 flood, triggered by a glacial mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border.

Hong Kong (AFP) – Foreign diplomats, relatives and supporters arrive at a Hong Kong court ahead of the sentencing of three activists who organised vigils marking China’s deadly Tiananmen crackdown and were found guilty of inciting “subversion”. The activists were later sentenced to between five and seven years in jail. IMAGES

Geoje (South Korea) (AFP) – South Korea’s haenyeo, or “sea woman,” have been freediving for generations, harvesting seafood without breathing equipment. But as the legendary women grow older and their numbers decline, a new generation is taking up the tradition to help keep it alive. Diving duo Woo Jung-min and Jin So-hee quit their city jobs to work on the island of Geoje, blending ancient knowledge with social media to raise awareness about the UNESCO-recognised culture.