Rallies in Chisinau reveal deep divisions before polls open on Sunday. Voters weigh the promise of Europe against the shadow of Moscow's control.

Chișinău

Moldova is holding a closely watched election, described as one of the most significant in its history. The ruling pro-European PAS party is competing against a Moscow-friendly alliance and several smaller blocs, amid widespread voter frustration over economic conditions. Authorities and election monitors have reported attempts at foreign interference, including online disinformation campaigns and covert payments to spread anti-government messages, with evidence suggesting involvement from networks operated in Russia and Belarus. 

In response, Moldovan officials have taken measures such as relocating polling stations for security reasons and banning two parties suspected of illegal financing, though these actions have drawn criticism for potentially limiting voter choice. The government maintains its commitment to transparency, emphasizing the importance of defending democratic rights. The election outcome is expected to determine whether Moldova continues on its path toward European Union integration or shifts back toward Russian influence.

Moldova election: Russia influence or EU integration?

It's been called the most consequential election in Moldova's history. And at this last rally organised by the ruling pro-European PAS party, the fear is palpable that Moldova finds itself back under Russia's thumb. It would be a disastrous scenario if we would get pulled into this. With pro-Russian wins, I have some thoughts to leave Moldova. The governing PAS party faces competition from a Moscow-friendly political alliance, plus smaller political blocs with mixed messages. And it's clear some voters at the central market in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, aren't convinced by the government's pro-Western vision, with high prices and energy costs leaving many frustrated. The European Union or the Soviet Union, it's the same empire. Things need to change because we are going nowhere. We're still thinking about who to vote for. Because nothing has changed in Moldova lately. For 30 years we've been choosing one party, then another, and then that. But little in life changes. But there are also more undemocratic forces at play. Police here have uncovered foreign schemes to train Moldovans on stirring up political violence. And election monitors have found evidence of covert cash payment offers to spread anti-government content online. Here we have an example of a bot network. You can see that they are propagating the same sentence. Which says? Which are saying that PAS is going to bring us poverty, the fact that we are going to enter in the European Union equals the fact that they're going to bring the war in Moldova. Moscow denies involvement in election meddling, but Ana tells us the evidence is clear. Starting to investigate a little bit how the network is looking, we can see most of them are operated from Russia, operated from Belarus. With a pro-Russian breakaway region on Moldovan territory, keeping voting access fair across this country of 2.4 million is no mean feat. In the bid to crack down on election interference, Moldovan authorities have taken last-minute decisions to relocate some polling stations due to security concerns and to ban two political parties from participating over suspected illegal financing. And that's controversial. With critics warning it's restricting voters' rights. We put that to the government's top spokesperson. We are committed to be open, to be transparent. Observers are all around. We are in talks with them. We are explaining. And we shall be talking about the real story here. And the real story is how the Moldovan people are defending their right for freedom and for democracy. For now, Moldova remains on a path toward joining the European Union. But when polls close on Sunday, they'll kick off a count that could decide whether Moldova stays west or changes direction.

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Karur

Dozens killed in political rally stampede in India

According to the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, a store, ten retail outlets, two apartment buildings, and several non-residential premises were damaged.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine goes dark as Russian drone attacks damage facilities

A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly, at least 44 people have been killed in attacks across Gaza. Ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza City are forcing more Palestinians to flee.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Trump talks of Israel-Gaza deal as IDF strikes refugee camp

U.S President Donald Trump has signed an executive order outlining the terms of a deal to sell TikTok’s American operation to a group of stateside investors. CBC’s Ashley Fraser breaks down the deal and what it could mean for the social media platform's algorithm.

Toronto

Global Tariffs

Breaking down Trump’s TikTok deal

UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal are set to come back in force, essentially killing the landmark agreement. The inability to find a common ground – on all sides - is raising fears of further confrontation.

Tehran

Sanctions against Iran set to resume after UN vote

UN sanctions are set to be reimposed on Iran on Saturday - after a failed bid by Russia and China to delay them. Only four countries voted in favour of the draft resolution.

New York

UN set to reimpose sanctions on Iran on Saturday

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more files turned over by the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Washington County

House Democrats release more Epstein files

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wore a QR code at the U.N. General Assembly linking to images of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack as Western nations move to recognize Palestine. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest.

Dozens of delegates walk out as Netanyahu speaks at U.N.

A court on Thursday (September 25) sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison over a scheme for late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential run.

Paris

Former French president Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison

The U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday (September 25), in a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump's retribution campaign against his political enemies.

Washington

Former FBI chief James Comey charged

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday new tariffs set to take effect next Wednesday, including a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical drugs. There will also be tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, such as kitchen cabinets, some furniture and trucks.

U.S. to impose new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, some furniture, trucks

US President Donald Trump has hosted his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House. The two leaders discussed Türkiye's long-disputed F-35 fighter jets, trade and energy ties as well as regional matters.

Istanbul

Trump hosts Erdogan as U.S. considers lifting ban on F-35 sales

Danish officials say a series of drone incursions they’re calling hybrid attacks at airports were carried out by ‘professional actors,’ and some analysts are pointing to Russia as a culprit. Russia has denied involvement.

Copenhagen

Russia denies involvement in drone flyovers at Danish airports

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of senior military officials to Virginia for an urgent gathering. The pentagon has provided very little details about the purpose of this meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth calls rare meeting of hundreds of senior military officers

Spain and Italy have sent naval vessels into the eastern Mediterranean to escort a flotilla of activists trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. It’s a move that could set up tensions at sea and comes after the convoy says it was attacked by drones.

Madrid

Spain, Italy send navies to escort Gaza aid flotilla

Federal agents in Washington state have seized more than 50,000 counterfeit pills laced with carfentanil, a drug said to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Centralia

Feds seize 50,000 pills laced with drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly virtually after the U.S. revoked visas for him and members of his delegation. CBS News' Olivia Gazis reports.

Mahmoud Abbas promises no Hamas in post-war Gaza government

The widow of one of the 60 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet involved in the deadly midair collision near D.C. in January has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines, the FAA and the U.S. Army.

D.C. midair collision victim's family sues airline, FAA and Army

China led several countries in announcing new climate plans on Wednesday and offered a veiled rebuke of the U.S. president's anti-climate rhetoric a day earlier at the U.N. General Assembly.

Beijing

China sets new emissions goals after Trump rejects climate change

World leaders have launched an initiative, “Democracy Now,” on the sidelines of the UNGA to counter far-right extremism and defend multilateralism. As the UN faces skepticism, a new initiative by Brazil, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, and Colombia is gaining support among member states.

Leaders at the U.N. push reforms to counter authoritarian rise

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The meeting came a day after President Trump appeared to soften his language on the Ukraine war, raising questions about U.S. policy direction.

Manhattan

Rubio meets Russia's Lavrov after Trump shifts tone on Ukraine war

The family of one of the 67 people killed earlier this year when an American Airlines plane and a  U.S. Army helicopter collided over Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the government and the airline.

Widow of D.C. plane crash victim sues American Airlines, federal gov.

The new Paramount+ documentary "Bodyguard of Lies" highlights the efforts across four presidential administrations to conceal the challenges the U.S. faced during the Afghanistan

New documentary uncovers gov. deception during Afghanistan War

In his address to the U.N. General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia wants to expand the war beyond Ukraine.

Putin wants to expand war beyond Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns U.N.

The Trump administration is rehiring hundreds of federal employees who were laid off during cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi has more details.

Trump administration rehires hundreds laid off during DOGE cuts

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison if a Paris court convicts him of secretly using funds from the Libyan government of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi to finance his presidential campaign in 2007.

Ex-French President Sarkozy awaits verdict in trial

An international aid flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday (September 24) it was attacked overnight by drones in international waters off Greece, prompting Italy to send a navy ship to come to its assistance.

Italy sends navy ship to help Gaza aid flotilla after drone attack

At least three people were shot at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Wednesday morning, officials said. One victim was killed, while two others are injured. The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Dallas

Three people shot at ICE facility in Dallas, officials say

The U.S. has long argued China should give up the developing-country status because it is the world’s second-largest economy.

China gives up WTO developing-country status as tariff tensions linger

U.S. President Donald Trump reversed his stance on the Ukraine war after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly, now expressing confidence that Ukraine can reclaim all its territory.

Breakdown