World news summaries — Page 14
Essential facts and source links for recent world stories.
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Lula signs provisional order banning Brazil's sports betting and online casinos
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a provisional order on Friday banning sports betting and online casinos, just over a week before the first round of the presidential election. Congress has 120 days to approve it for the ban to remain in force. -
Yemen’s al-Alimi pairs mobilization call with amnesty offer to Houthi defectors
Yemen’s council chair Rashad al-Alimi urged people to join Saudi-backed forces in a Friday speech, his first since government forces were routed from the western Red Sea coast. He offered immediate amnesty to Houthi defectors, subject to constitutional and legal procedures. -
Veto rights and seat choices keep Africa’s Security Council reform unresolved
At the 81st UN General Assembly, African leaders called for at least two permanent African and five non-permanent Security Council seats, with veto power for new permanent members while the veto remains. All five permanent members must ratify any Charter change. -
WSJ reports Trump rejected Iran's seven-day Hormuz reopening plan
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran sent Washington a seven-day plan via Qatar to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore normal passage if conditions are met. The Wall Street Journal later reported Trump rejected it, citing US officials. -
Impostor site fabricated $140 million raid claim about Arsen Zhumadilov
An impostor site falsely claimed that a search of former defense procurement chief Arsen Zhumadilov uncovered $140 million in cash. The New Voice of Ukraine said it never published the report and reported that Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau, NABU, conducted no such search. -
Mene Grande looks to US oil investment for a revival
Mene Grande residents hope renewed US interest and oil projects under negotiation will revive Venezuela’s oil birthplace. The nearby Zumaque I well, producing since 1914, now yields only 20 barrels a day, while reported blackouts in the town last up to 17 hours. -
Pope Leo XIV's vigil draws about 80,000 young Catholics to Stade de France
About 80,000 young Catholics filled the Stade de France in Saint-Denis near Paris on Friday for a vigil with Pope Leo XIV. The crowd chanted his name as he called them “the saints of France,” answered questions and led them in prayer during his four-day official visit. -
Fourteen die as Congolese army plane crashes while trying to land in Kenge
A Congolese army plane crashed in Kenge, Kwango province, on Friday, killing 14 people, including civilians and senior military officials. It developed a technical fault while flying from Kikwit to Kinshasa and attempted to land in Kenge. -
Friday's £111m EuroMillions prize goes to a UK ticket holder
A UK ticket holder won Friday’s £111m EuroMillions jackpot after matching all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars, lottery operator Allwyn confirmed. The player’s identity was not disclosed. It is the third time a UK-based player has won the jackpot this year. -
Paris court sentences Le Priol to 26 years, Bouvier to 19 for Aramburu killing
Loik Le Priol was sentenced to 26 years in prison and Romain Bouvier to 19 years for the 2022 Paris murder of former Argentina rugby international Federico Martin Aramburu. After a bar fight, Bouvier opened fire first; Le Priol fired the fatal shots. -
IDA urges Israel to end threats against ‘NAZA’ directors after Venice win
The International Documentary Association urged Israel to withdraw what it calls threats against “NAZA” directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. A culture minister accused them of treason and sought to revoke their citizenship. -
South Africa keeps door open to Washington talks despite visa curbs
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said South Africa remains open to talks with the US despite surprise US visa curbs. Discussions on accommodating new US entrants to South Africa’s mining sector had been progressing when Washington announced the restrictions. -
A nearly 16-hour police chase across New Zealand's South Island ended with the driver's arrest
A 20-year-old driver was arrested after a nearly 16-hour New Zealand police chase across the South Island in October 2016. The pursuit covered about 720 kilometers and ended near Dunedin; he faced charges of driving without being legally permitted and evading police. -
Over 5,000 people in Kymore diagnosed with asbestos-linked illnesses; no full cleanup planned
In Kymore, India, more than 5,000 people have been diagnosed with illnesses directly connected to asbestos exposure, while over 1.1 million tons of soil remain contaminated. Cleanup is estimated at about £100 million, but no full cleanup is planned. -
Houthi escalation against Saudi Arabia condemned by UN Council members
UN Security Council members condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the Houthis’ military escalation in Yemen. A joint statement said the actions risk widening the conflict, threatening maritime security and international trade, and undermining peace efforts in Yemen. -
Roelf Meyer rejects Trump’s claim of genocide against white Afrikaners
South Africa’s new US envoy Roelf Meyer told the BBC a genocide targeting white Afrikaners “does not exist,” rejecting Trump’s claim. Police data show most crime victims, including on farms, are Black; farm violence accounts for a smaller number of homicides. -
Barham Salih urges UN Security Council to help end conflicts driving displacement
UN refugee chief Barham Salih urged the Security Council to help end conflicts so more than 117 million people forced from home can return instead of remaining displaced for generations. He said humanitarians cannot create peace, a responsibility entrusted to the council. -
UN members fail to agree on pandemic preparedness declaration
Countries failed Friday to reach consensus on a declaration closing the U.N. General Assembly's pandemic-preparedness meeting. The assembly will consider the draft later; it calls for stronger coordination, financing, lab capacity and access to medicines and vaccines. -
OpenAI reports at least 53 improper transfers of ChatGPT user images
OpenAI says its agents improperly transferred images from ChatGPT user activity in at least 53 cases and may have affected websites of dozens of institutions worldwide. Users had allowed model training on their data, the company said, but it called the transfers inappropriate. -
Brazil announces betting-firm suspension; platforms to go offline Oct. 6
Brazil’s federal government announced a suspension of betting companies’ activities on Friday, Sept. 25; new deposits are prohibited, bettors must receive account balances by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 5, and platforms are due to go offline Oct. 6. -
Bundibugyo Ebola spreads to two more zones in DR Congo, WHO says
The WHO says the DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has reached two new health zones: Bulu in South Ubangi and Dungu in Haut-Uele. It now affects 63 health zones in seven provinces; as of Sept. 23, the DRC had reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths. -
EU directive tightens evidence rules for fashion brands’ green claims
The EU’s new consumer-protection directive takes effect Sunday, restricting vague “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” claims, offset-based climate claims and self-certified sustainability logos. Brands must substantiate specific environmental claims with evidence. -
Pope Leo XIV to visit Pequeño Cottolengo amid halted government deliveries
Pope Leo XIV will visit Pequeño Cottolengo in Claypole on Nov. 9. Government deliveries of medicines, diapers, dressings and food stopped in November 2025, leaving the home reliant on its own funds and donations. It serves about 400 people with disabilities. -
Bali police say Damien Shaw killed his children; his death is believed to be suicide
Bali police say Australian Damien John Shaw killed his children, Laura, 4, and Archie, 6; they believe he then died by suicide. All three were found dead at a home in southern Bali on Sept. 13, and the children's mother watched CCTV footage showing Shaw chasing Laura. -
BBC investigation examines possible insulin mix-up in Colin Norris case
A BBC review says insulin and dextrose syringes were prepared in the same room while Ethel Hall was treated after being found in a coma in 2002, raising the possibility of a mix-up. Colin Norris’s four murder convictions were upheld on appeal in 2025.
