This roundup summarises the most important news stories around the world in the last month (September 2023).

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Azerbaijan launched a military operation in the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. A ceasefire agreement was later announced, and the breakaway government of Nagorno-Karabakh announced it would cease to exist by the end of 2023, thereby ending 30 years of separatist rule. In Canada, prime minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the alleged assassination of a Canadian citizen in June, expelling an Indian diplomat right after. India responded by expelling a Canadian diplomat and suspended visa applications by Canadians.

And in India, the G20 Summit – with China and Russia sitting out – concluded with an agreement to admit the African Union as a member.

Legal breakthroughs in Hong Kong and Mexico

The Mexican supreme court decriminalised abortion across the country, making the procedure legally accessible in federal health institutions and ruling against bans on medical providers performing abortions. The 20 Mexican states with laws against abortion will have to revise their criminal codes. Mexico is also set to elect its first female president, as the female candidates of the governing party and opposition coalition face off.

In Hong Kong, a top court ordered an alternative legal framework to same-sex marriage to be formulated within two years.

Deadly natural disasters

Also in Hong Kong, the region experienced the heaviest hourly rainfall on record since 1884, resulting in flooding. In Libya, devastating floods caused by heavy rains and a dam collapse killed at least 11,000 people. Morocco was struck by a deadly earthquake, killing over 2,800 people. It was the country’s most powerful earthquake in over a century.

And in Bangladesh, the World Health Organisation said the country has been hit by the worst dengue outbreak on record.

In other news

• Gabon became the eighth African country in the last three years to experience a military coup.
• The coach of the Spanish national women football team was ousted following player complaints of sexism and controlling behaviour. He was not involved in allegation of misconduct by the country’s football chief, who later – and eventually – resigned.
• In Thailand, the eight-year prison sentence of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was commuted to one year. The king’s announcement coincided with Mr. Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai party returning to government in an alliance with pro-military parties.
• And in the United States, autoworkers began a strike against major car manufacturers, and president Joe Biden also joined the picket line in support of the labour union.