CUSTOMS

The United States and Taiwan signed a trade agreement on Thursday to strengthen their economic ties, amid rising tensions with China. The U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade hopes to improve customs and border procedures as well as other policies between the two countries. While Washington and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties, the two governments are connected through unofficial relations and have $105.7 billion dollars in annual trade.

What Happened: The Iranian army will conduct exercises along the country’s northwestern border with Azerbaijan starting Oct. 1, Bloomberg reported Sept. 30, citing an Iranian military official. The combined arms exercises will reportedly involve armor, drones, artillery, electronic warfare and helicopter units.