Global Beat is your weekly stop for news from around the world. Join us every Friday morning for important stories you should know about.

This week, the United States imposes sanctions on Venezualan officials; China criticizes U.S. military sale to Taiwan; Ethiopia arrests thousands; and more.

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Americas

The United States imposed new sanctions on Venezuelan First Lady Cilia Flores in addition to multiple other allies of President Nicolás Maduro this week, while also banning any Americans from doing business with the individuals. The imposition of sanctions comes after President Trump called Venezuela one of world’s "truly bad places" at the United Nations General Assembly. He also added "it's a regime that frankly could be toppled very quickly by the military if the military decides to do that." Maduro responded in his own speech to the United Nations General Assembly by accusing the United States of treating the world like its own property, and that the sanctions imposed on Venezuela are "illegal."

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• 'If' NAFTA 2.0 proceeds, Trudeau wants to feel 'confident' on tariffs – CBC

Central & South Asia

The Maldives armed forces vowed to uphold the results from Sunday’s presidential election after the country’s outgoing president, Abdulla Yameen, failed to accept defeat by disputing the results with plans to annul the election. Despite Yameen’s reaction, the election commission said the election was conducted in a "calm and orderly manner" without any complaints, and the acting chief of the Maldives police tweeted that, "made by the beloved people of the Maldives on September 23, 2018, will be respected and upheld by police."

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• Surge of Afghan civilian casualties from airstrikes alarms United Nations – The Washington Post

China & East Asia

The U.S. State Department’s approval of a $330 million military sale to Taiwan is facing backlash by Chinese officials who have urged for the immediate annulment of the deal in order to "avoid severe damage to China-U.S. ties, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and bilateral cooperation in major fields." Despite splitting from the mainland in 1949, China still claims sovereignty over Taiwan, and thus considers this deal a potential threat to its efforts of reunification of the two lands, as the arms package is aimed to improve Taiwan’s defense power.

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• United States arrests Chinese national for spying – Al Jazeera

Europe & Russia

Brexit talks are continuing to face scrutiny as UK Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn announced a no-deal Brexit would be a "national disaster" and with weeks left in the negotiations, Brexit talks are "in a perilous state." The leader, who met with EU negotiators this week, insists that the UK remain in a custom union with the EU and "protect consumer standards and workers’ rights." But Prime Minister Theresa May has criticized the Labour Party for "playing politics" and "not working for the national interest."

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• Salisbury poisoning suspect identified as Russian colonel – The Guardian

Middle East & North Africa

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei blamed Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for financing the five attackers who opened fire on civilians and officers in a military parade in Ahvaz last Saturday. President Hassan Rouhani also blamed the United States for shielding the "foreign mercenaries" while assisting them in their operations, claiming that "today Americans are bullying the world more than ever and continuing their unilateralist policies." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley denied the allegations, stating that Rouhani’s remarks reflect Iran’s anger towards the United States’ decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

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• Iranian president denies requesting meeting with Trump – CNN

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Army General Robert Abrams, the nominee to be the next commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, said the suspension of joint military exercises in South Korea caused a "slight degradation" in military readiness and was a "prudent risk." His comments came during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee where members questioned Abrams on his views on North Korea. While Abrams remained confident that there are still plans in place to carry out smaller exercises, he also stressed that the United States should be focused and "clear-eyed" about North Korea’s "significant asymmetric and intercontinental threat."

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• Japan's Abe open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – Al Jazeera

Sub-Saharan Africa

Mass arrests of over 1,200 people have occurred in Ethiopia as a result of deadly political clashes that have occurred throughout September. The detained were sent to Tolay military camp for "rehabilitation." Over two dozen people died in the attacks, which included ethnic violence against minorities, and "was a blow to new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmend’s efforts at reconciliation." In addition to the violence-related arrests, over a thousand more have been arrested for what Amnesty International called "arbitrary" reasons, like gambling, smoking shisha, or chewing narcotic leaves.

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• Rwandan imprisoned opposition leader to go on trial as another walks free – for now – CNN

Stay informed. We’ll see you here again next week.