Estonia says 3 Russian fighter jets entered its airspace in ‘brazen’ incursion

(AP) — Estonia has summoned a Russian diplomat to protest after three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace without permission. The Foreign Ministry said the incursion on Friday lasted 12 minutes. This is the fifth time this year that Russia has violated Estonian airspace, but the Foreign Minister called this incident “unprecedentedly brazen.” The airspace violation comes just over a week after NATO planes downed Russian drones over Poland, raising concerns about the war in Ukraine spilling over. Russian officials have not yet commented on the incident.

The Taliban release British couple held for months in Afghanistan on undisclosed charges

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Taliban have released a British couple held in Afghanistan for over seven months on undisclosed charges. Analysts say this move on Friday is part of a broader effort to gain international recognition. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 80 and 76, lived in Afghanistan for 18 years and ran an education organization. They chose to stay after the Taliban took power in 2021. Qatar helped mediate their release. The Taliban have not explained why they detained the couple. In July, United Nations experts warned about their deteriorating health. Earlier this month, the Taliban reached a prisoner exchange agreement with U.S. envoys.

US military strike off the coast of Venezuela disrupts life in fishing communities

GÜIRIA, Venezuela (AP) — A U.S. military strike on a boat off Venezuela’s northeastern Caribbean coast has disrupted a flow of money that helps impoverished communities. Residents say drug trafficking and fishing are common, but the strike has halted local spending. Fishermen claim they don’t transport drugs but understand why some do, as fishing alone leads to poverty. The Sept. 2 strike killed 11 people, sparking speculation about its motives. The U.S. claims the boat carried drugs and members of the Venezuelan Train de Aragua gang. Venezuela’s government meanwhile says authorities are still investigating the attack. The situation highlights the region’s reliance on illegal trade amid economic hardship.

Paramilitary drone attack on a mosque in Sudan kills at least 70 people, army say

CAIRO (AP) — Aid workers and the Sudanese army say a drone attack by Sudan’s paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces struck a mosque during prayers Friday, killing at least 70 worshippers in the North Darfur region. The strike in the besieged city of El Fasher completely destroyed the mosque, and aid workers said the death toll would likely go higher because bodies still were buried in the rubble. Sudan’s army, which has been fighting against the RSF in an escalating violence since April 2023, said in a statement that it was mourning the deaths and that it condemned the RSF for what it said was targeting civilians unjustly.