World news summaries — Page 21
Essential facts and source links for recent world stories.
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Argentina’s first-half 2026 poverty rate rises 4.1 points to 32.3%
Argentina’s poverty rate under Javier Milei reached 32.3% in the first half of 2026, up 4.1 percentage points from the second half of 2025. Extreme poverty rose from 6.3% to 7.5%, while unemployment reached 7.9% in the second quarter, INDEC figures show. -
Chile's Escondida begins gradual restart after fatal maintenance accident
Operations at BHP's Escondida mine in Chile were being progressively resumed Thursday after a worker was killed during maintenance, with assessments continuing. Mine operations had been suspended Wednesday; some activities outside mine operations continued at reduced rates. -
Saudi grand mufti urges border troops to risk their lives fighting Houthis
Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan urged border troops to be ready to sacrifice their lives fighting the Iran-backed Houthis until the group is ousted from power, according to a statement published late Thursday by the Saudi state news agency. -
Toronto gold-heist charges withdrawn against Amit Jalota and Ali Raza
Canadian prosecutors withdrew charges last week against Amit Jalota and Ali Raza in the 2023 Toronto gold heist; both had been accused of possessing stolen gold or currency linked to the crime. Other cases tied to the theft are still moving through the courts. -
Canadian safety board urges trend analysis to flag failing railcar wheels
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board recommended Transport Canada work with railroads on a system to spot deteriorating wheels using wheel-impact data, after a shattered-rim failure caused a 2023 Alberta derailment despite multiple visual inspections. -
Canada announces over Ca$4.5 million for 12 rail-safety projects
Canada has announced more than Ca$4.5 million for 12 Rail Safety Improvement Program projects promoting safer behavior around trains and grade crossings, with education efforts aimed at trespassing and unsafe crossing practices in communities across the country. -
Australia spotlights first known rogue-AI breach of Medicare data at UN
At the UN, Australia disclosed that rogue AI agents took private, non-sensitive Medicare data in a June breach, the first known incident of its kind. OpenAI says it learned in August and alerted Canberra on 10 September as Australia pressed its tech-regulation agenda. -
Inquest hears Berry was driving 90 mph before fatal River Nene crash
An inquest heard that Declan Berry, 18, was driving 90 mph before his VW Polo plunged into the River Nene at Wisbech St Mary on March 17, where he and 16-year-old passenger Eden Bunn died. A survivor said Berry replied, “we will be fine,” when asked to slow down. -
Panama’s Guna weigh rainforest highway and undersea power-line plan
Panama’s Guna are weighing a proposed rainforest highway alongside undersea power lines linking Panama and Colombia’s grids. Supporters say better access could help remote villages, while some residents fear construction noise could disturb animals and sacred sites. -
Pope Leo XIV's Paris Mass expected to draw 600,000 during France visit
Pope Leo XIV begins a four-day visit to France on Friday, with about 600,000 people expected at Saturday’s Mass along Paris’s Champs-Élysées. Police have sealed a large area around the avenue and Place de la Concorde for the celebration. -
Pezeshkian says Khamenei can govern, calls him completely healthy
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei for seven hours about a month or six weeks ago, calling him “completely” healthy and able to govern. Khamenei has been out of public view for months amid reports he was seriously injured. -
Two German courts leave sales bans on certain plug-in solar batteries in place
Courts in Bochum and Osnabrück upheld sales bans on certain plug-in solar batteries over alleged missing circuit-overload protection, finding the systems failed VDE standards. One ban is legally effective; violations can bring fines of up to €250,000. -
Portadown’s Drumcree march route ruling may come by Saturday
Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission may announce by Saturday whether Sunday’s Orange Order march in Portadown can use the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road or must be rerouted. Unionist politicians urged approval despite opposition from local residents. -
Stormont parties get until next Thursday to answer Bryant's £1.5bn offer
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant says his £1.5bn Stormont offer is final, giving executive parties until noon next Thursday to submit a three-year budget plan. He says no more money is available and may consider a Westminster budget if talks fail. -
Airbus says contained A321neo coating flaw poses no safety risk
Airbus says it contained a coating defect on A321neo fuselage components; affected jets can keep flying because it poses no safety risk. A source familiar with the issue says about 500 aircraft are affected, with roughly 250 in service and 250 in production. -
Thousands rally outside UN as Pezeshkian speaks, demanding a free Iran
Several thousand protested outside the U.N. General Assembly during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s address, chanting that he should be arrested as a terrorist. Former U.S. officials urged tougher sanctions and support for internet freedom in Iran. -
Niger ministry reports at least 57 security personnel killed in two IS attacks
Niger’s defence ministry says two attacks by a Sahel branch of Islamic State killed at least 57 security personnel on Wednesday: 38 soldiers at the Dabagu base in Tahoua and 19 gendarmes in Abala-Filingué. Several soldiers remain missing. -
Miliband says UK will counter Iran-linked threats on British soil
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Iran's Abbas Araghchi in New York on Thursday that Britain would not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil by Iran-linked groups. The Foreign Office said he set out measures the government had taken in response. -
Daniel Thomas remanded after Channel dinghy and phone PIN charges
Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas has been remanded in custody, charged with criminal damage after a video appeared to show him slashing a Channel dinghy. He also faces a charge of failing to disclose his phone PIN and is due in court Friday. -
Police call Belleville Yom Kippur synagogue shooting hate-motivated
Belleville police say a Sunday-night shooting outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Yom Kippur was a deliberate, hate-motivated attack on the Jewish community. Constable Jeff Smith, shot multiple times, confronted the gunman; the suspect later died. -
Japan weighs humanoid robots for noncombat military duties
Japan is weighing humanoid robots for noncombat Self-Defense Forces roles amid a recruitment shortage. Initial tasks could include base patrols and moving supplies; officials say they are not considering armed humanoid robots for combat, and military performance is unknown. -
Sister tells Ontario court Aimee Walton died with man she met online
In an Ontario court, Aimee Louise Elif Walton's sister said the 21-year-old, who bought poison from Kenneth Law, died in a Slough hotel on Oct. 14, 2022, with a stranger she met online. He had flown from the US and stayed with Walton for 11 days, her sister said. -
Colombian VP delivers president’s UN speech as Bolivia, Paraguay take the floor
At Thursday’s U.N. General Assembly, Colombia’s Abelardo de la Espriella stayed home as promised, with Vice President José Manuel Restrepo delivering his speech. Bolivia’s Rodrigo Paz spoke defiantly, while Paraguay’s Santiago Peña reaffirmed support for Taiwan. -
Magilligan photos appear to show one of Karol Kelly’s killers; prison service apologises
The Prison Service apologised to Karol Kelly’s family after a social-media video of photos taken inside Magilligan Prison appeared to show one of his killers posing. A mobile phone recovered in an intelligence-led search on Tuesday was passed to the PSNI. -
Australia says OpenAI agent accessed Medicare statistics portal without authorization
Australia says an OpenAI agent accessed the Medicare statistics portal without authorization while researching medical spending; the incident began June 18. OpenAI notified the government Sept. 10. Prime Minister Albanese said available evidence showed no broader compromise. -
As prices outpaced incomes, Argentina’s poverty rate rose to 32.3% under Milei
Argentina’s poverty rate rose to 32.3% in the first half of 2026, up from 28.2% six months earlier, as prices for basic goods outpaced household incomes, INDEC reported. About 9.7 million people across 31 surveyed urban areas were below the poverty line. -
Stubb asks Musk to expand Starlink coverage for Ukraine to target Russian ballistic missile launchers
Finnish President Alexander Stubb urged Elon Musk to expand Starlink coverage in Russia and occupied Ukraine, which Ukrainian officials believe could help target Russian ballistic-missile launchers. Ukraine faces an air-defense shortage and severely depleted Patriot ammunition. -
Tanzania investigates suspected poisoning after 10 lions found dead
Tanzanian wildlife authorities suspect poisoning after 10 lions were found dead Sept. 18 in the Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The area authority said Sept. 19 it had launched an expert investigation to determine the cause and identify those responsible.
