British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo has died at the age of 44 in his home in Ghana. He was known for his positive style, winning a Mobo Award as an unsigned artist, and for hit songs like "Level Up."
Key Facts
Sway DaSafo was born Derek Andrew Safo in London but was raised in north London and Ghana.
He was the first unsigned rapper to win a Mobo Award in 2006.
His hit single "Level Up" reached the top 10 in 2012.
Sway was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010 and went into remission after treatment.
He released music independently and supported other artists through his label Dcypha.
He worked with notable musicians including Mark Ronson, Ed Sheeran, and Childish Gambino.
Sway also acted in TV and film, including the show Top Boy.
At his death, he lived in Ghana as a single parent to four children.
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Drivers are ignoring roadwork closures on motorways and major roads in England, deliberately entering these areas to avoid traffic queues. National Highways warns this behavior is dangerous and has resulted in road closures to protect workers and at least one fatality this year.
Key Facts
National Highways manages motorways and major roads in England.
Between January and July 2024, there were 814 reported incidents of vehicles entering closed roadworks.
About 53% of these incidents involved drivers trying to skip queues or avoid diversions.
On average, 30 incursions happen each week on England’s motorways and A-roads.
Some drivers enter closed roadworks deliberately (“seeking benefit”), while others do so by mistake or due to breakdowns.
National Highways has had to close entire motorway sections, like the M1 in Hertfordshire, to protect workers and reduce risks.
One death has occurred this year linked to drivers entering closed roadwork zones.
Roadworks closures always mean work is active or the road is unsafe, even if workers are not visible.
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In Cameroon, eight women were killed in eight days in August 2026, adding to over sixty femicide cases reported this year. Local groups are working to help victims’ families with legal and psychological support, as domestic violence complaints rarely lead to convictions in the country.
Key Facts
Eight women were killed in eight days in Cameroon during August 2026.
More than sixty femicide cases were reported since early 2026.
The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family keeps track of these cases.
Civil society groups provide legal advice and mental health support to affected families.
Domestic violence complaints rarely result in convictions in Cameroon.
The issue has raised concern among local communities and activists.
The report comes from Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.
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An Israeli drone strike killed a child and a medic in Gaza, according to witness reports and verified footage. The Israeli military said it is reviewing the incident but denies targeting civilians on purpose.
Key Facts
Mohammad Abdul Zinati saw a man wounded on a street in Gaza after an initial explosion.
A second drone strike followed seconds later, targeting the wounded man.
The drone used a glide bomb, which allows precise targeting.
The Guardian verified footage and interviewed witnesses and weapons experts.
The Israeli military is reviewing what happened and denies deliberately hitting civilians.
This event is part of ongoing conflict and violence in Gaza.
South Korea’s president declined to send troops to the Middle East, resisting pressure from President Trump.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now HHS secretary, expressed support for anti-vaccine activists amid a measles outbreak in the US.
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A United Nations fact-finding team reported that the United States may have committed war crimes during two strikes in Iran in February 2026. One strike hit a primary school in Minab, killing many children and teachers, and another hit a sports complex in Lamerd, which was not a military target.
Key Facts
The UN team investigated February 2026 strikes on Iran by US and Israeli forces amid nuclear talks.
The first strike hit Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, killing around 156 people, mostly children and teachers.
Weapons analysis showed that the missile used in the Minab strike was a US Tomahawk, which Iran does not have.
The second strike targeted a cultural and sports complex in Lamerd, causing 22 deaths and over 100 injuries.
The UN mission said the Lamerd facility was not used for military purposes.
The US military admitted responsibility for the Minab strike but said it was due to wrong intelligence.
The US does not accept responsibility for the Lamerd strike, claiming it was caused by an Iranian missile, but the UN mission disputed this.
Neither the US nor Israel cooperated with the UN investigation, so evidence came from satellite images, videos, and local witnesses.
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Thirty-seven people suspected of illegal mining died while held in a detention center in Niger state, Nigeria. Authorities are investigating whether the deaths were caused by poor conditions, such as overcrowding and lack of air, or a possible disease outbreak.
Key Facts
The 37 suspected illegal miners died in custody two days after their arrest near Borgu in Niger state.
The detainees were held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary agency that helps police.
Early reports suggested a disease outbreak like diphtheria might have caused the deaths, but this has not been confirmed.
Relatives said the detainees were kept in a hot, overcrowded, and poorly ventilated cell where people collapsed.
Authorities have launched an investigation, and a NSCDC commander was detained after the incident.
The Niger state governor declared three days of mourning and postponed election campaign activities.
Post-mortem examinations are planned to determine the exact cause of death.
Illegal mining is common in the region, and more than 50 people were arrested in the recent operation.
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Nearly two billion people in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, are feeling effects from a war involving Iran. The conflict has disrupted oil and gas supplies from Gulf countries, raising fuel and living costs across the region, especially affecting poor families.
Key Facts
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal together have about 2 billion people, around 23% of the world’s population.
South Asia relies heavily on energy imports, especially from Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.
India imports about 85% of its crude oil and gets natural gas from Qatar and other countries.
Pakistan depends mostly on imported crude oil and LNG from Gulf countries and Qatar.
Bangladesh produces some natural gas but increasingly needs to import LNG from Qatar and refined petroleum products.
Nepal does not import oil or gas directly from the Gulf but depends on India for these supplies.
Rising fuel prices have caused hardships for many, including making food, electricity, and education less affordable.
People like Sajida Jibran in Pakistan are facing tough choices, such as cutting children’s school fees to pay for food and bills.
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Israel has targeted and killed key figures who could act as negotiators in conflicts with Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. These killings remove important people who might help end wars and tend to harden the positions of those left behind, making peace talks more difficult.
Key Facts
Sir John Sawers, former head of Britain’s foreign intelligence, said Israel deliberately killed Ali Larijani, a leading Iranian figure able to negotiate peace.
Killing negotiators creates a gap filled by harder leaders, reducing chances of diplomacy.
In 1948, UN mediator Count Folke Bernadotte was assassinated during Palestine peace efforts.
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran’s nuclear program leader, was killed in 2020, seen as blocking nuclear deal talks.
Ali Larijani, killed in March 2026, was pragmatic and could have negotiated with the U.S.
Israel has also killed leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas who were involved in negotiation, such as Abbas al-Musawi in 1992 and Ismail Haniyeh in 2024.
These actions cause short-term confusion but often lead to harder, less flexible leaders taking charge.
Removing key negotiators can close off diplomatic solutions and escalate conflicts instead of ending them.
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Ukraine launched more than 350 drones targeting Moscow and other Russian regions as Russia held parliamentary elections during the war. Russia’s voting included only pro-war parties, while Ukraine continued attacks on military and economic sites inside Russia and Russian-controlled areas.
Key Facts
Ukraine fired over 350 drones at Moscow and other areas on the first day of Russia’s three-day parliamentary vote.
The Russian elections are the first since the war began and only include parties supporting the war.
The opposition party, Yabloko, which opposes the conflict, was banned from the ballot in August.
Moscow said most drones were destroyed before reaching the city, with 64 shot down close to Moscow.
Ukrainian forces attacked an oil refinery in Yaroslavl and a military airfield in Rostov, damaging aircraft.
Russia continued air strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure, including a logistics hub near Odesa and a cargo vessel at Chornomorsk port.
A Russian drone attack injured five people, including children, in the Kyiv region.
Russia targeted drone factories and a data center near Kyiv used for military server operations.
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French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting leaders from different political parties to talk about the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. They will also discuss how these conflicts affect France’s security and energy, especially with rising fuel prices.
Key Facts
President Macron called a meeting at the Elysée Palace on Friday.
The meeting includes leaders from France’s various political parties.
Main topics are the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
They will discuss the effects of these wars on France’s security.
The rising cost of fuel in France is also a key issue.
The talks aim to address how ongoing conflicts impact France’s energy supply.
The discussion comes amid global concerns over stability and resources due to these wars.
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A man in his 60s was killed by a shark while swimming at Sorrento Beach near Perth, Australia, as beachgoers watched. Authorities searched the area and closed the beach after the attack, which is one of several recent shark incidents in Australia this year.
Key Facts
The shark attack happened off Sorrento Beach in Perth's northern suburbs on a Friday morning.
Witnesses saw blood in the water and described the horror of the attack.
Police confirmed the swimmer died from the shark attack but did not release his identity.
The beach was closed to swimmers following the incident.
Earlier in the week, a surfer was seriously injured by a shark north of Perth.
Australia has had at least five fatal shark attacks in 2026, including a 12-year-old boy in Sydney.
The country averages two to three fatal shark attacks per year, according to official databases.
Shark attacks have become more common due to increased human activity like surfing and diving.
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A coroner refused Surrey County Council's request to keep three workers' identities secret during the inquest into Sara Sharif's death. Sara, a 10-year-old girl from Surrey, died after years of abuse by her father and stepmother, both of whom were sentenced to life in prison.
Key Facts
Sara Sharif was found dead in August 2023 at her family home in Woking, Surrey.
Her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, received life sentences in December 2024 for her murder.
Surrey County Council requested anonymity for three staff members giving evidence, but the coroner denied this request.
The coroner balanced the right to privacy against the media’s right to report freely and decided on transparency.
Sara was known to social services from 2010, with concerns reported shortly after her birth in 2013.
Council workers failed to prevent her death, including a visit to the wrong address the day before she was killed.
Evidence showed failure to investigate signs of abuse, such as bruising hidden by a hijab.
The full inquest is scheduled for October 2027.
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A bomb attack at a mosque near a police headquarters in Kohat, Pakistan, killed at least 15 people and injured over 50 during Friday prayers. The explosion came from a car filled with explosives crashing into the mosque entrance, with no group immediately saying they carried out the attack.
Key Facts
The attack happened at a mosque near police headquarters in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 50 injured; some injured are in critical condition.
The bomb was inside a car that was driven into the mosque's entrance as people were praying.
No group has claimed responsibility yet.
Two groups, ISIL’s local branch and Pakistani Taliban (TTP), operate in the region and often attack security forces.
Violence has increased in Pakistan’s border areas with Afghanistan in recent years.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of letting militants use Afghan land to plan attacks; Afghanistan denies this.
There have been cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months.
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Russia is holding its first parliamentary elections since starting the war in Ukraine in 2022. Only parties loyal to President Vladimir Putin are allowed to run, and opposition candidates have been disqualified, making the elections largely symbolic.
Key Facts
Russia’s parliamentary elections are ongoing, but opposition parties are barred from participating.
Candidates have been disqualified for reasons such as using a campaign song or referencing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
The elections mainly feature parties loyal to President Putin, ensuring his party will win.
Televised debates were held but sometimes had no opposition participants.
Discussions about the Ukraine war during the elections are mostly banned.
The voting process is seen as a way to create a false appearance of democracy.
Most Russians feel the country’s political situation is tense.
Other international news includes the French football team’s new coach, the choice of a crocodile-infested river for Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic canoe and rowing events, and the discovery of a new wild cat species.
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A vehicle filled with explosives crashed into a mosque in north-west Pakistan, killing at least 16 people including civilians and police officers. Police and attackers are still exchanging gunfire, and rescue teams are working at the scene.
Key Facts
At least 16 people have died in the mosque attack in Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
The victims include 11 civilians and 5 police officers.
The attack involved a vehicle packed with explosives hitting the mosque.
Police have killed one attacker so far.
Fighting between attackers and security forces is still ongoing.
Rescue operations are in progress, and the number of deaths may increase.
The incident is reported from Peshawar, a city near the attack site.
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Prince William said the world must act faster to solve climate problems. He highlighted projects nominated for the Earthshot Prize, which awards those working on big environmental solutions.
Key Facts
Prince William said progress on climate change is too slow.
He wants more businesses and leaders to support environmental solutions.
The Earthshot Prize selects projects that help protect nature and fight climate change.
This year’s finalists include the city of Barcelona and the country Bhutan for their environmental work.
Other finalists include Indigenous teams in Australia and Indian organizations focused on clean energy and climate resilience.
The Earthshot Prize ceremony will be held in Mumbai, India, in November 2025.
Five winners will receive £1 million each to help grow their projects.
The prize council includes Prince William, Queen Rania of Jordan, actress Cate Blanchett, and chef José Andrés.
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Keeley Knowles, known as a shoplifter in Birmingham, used WhatsApp to organize a group where members ordered stolen designer goods. She stole up to £7,000 worth of items each day.
Key Facts
Keeley Knowles was called "Birmingham's most prolific shoplifter."
She stole designer goods valued at up to £7,000 daily.
Knowles ran a WhatsApp group for coordinating thefts based on orders.
The group operated by planning thefts to meet specific requests.
The value and scale of the thefts made this a significant crime case.
The news focuses on criminal activity involving organized theft.
The location of the events is Birmingham, UK.
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Venezuela has unblocked access to some news websites that were previously censored, according to its telecom regulator. This change comes as political talks supported by the United States are set to resume, but many news sites remain blocked.
Key Facts
Venezuela lifted blocks on 17 news websites after years of censorship.
A digital rights group confirmed these sites can now be accessed through several internet providers.
Despite the unblocking, at least 188 websites remain blocked in Venezuela.
Out of those blocked, 79 are news outlets.
The unblocking occurs while US-backed political transition talks are scheduled to restart in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s telecom regulator announced the change publicly.
The overall internet censorship situation in Venezuela continues to restrict many information sources.
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U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping face a difficult situation involving Iran and conflicts in the Middle East that are disrupting global oil supplies. China is now asking Iran to reduce support for Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia to help stabilize energy markets, which is important for both the U.S. and China.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Israel have taken military action against Iran, affecting oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz.
Houthi fighters, supported by Iran, have attacked Saudi Arabia’s oil sites and taken control near the Bab el-Mandeb strait in Yemen.
These attacks have caused oil prices to rise sharply, with U.S. crude oil surpassing $100 a barrel.
Diesel prices in the U.S. have hit a record high of $6.45 per gallon due to supply disruptions.
Saudi Arabia has asked China to help negotiate with Iran to reduce Houthi attacks.
China buys over 80% of Iran’s oil exports and wants to protect its energy supply and influence in the Gulf.
The conflict affects global energy markets and contributes to higher fuel prices in the U.S., impacting cost of living and the economy.
President Trump’s efforts to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons have not yet achieved a clear victory, and the conflict continues to have economic costs at home.
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The UK’s poor results in the Eurovision Song Contest have led a UK parliamentary committee to investigate how the country chooses its contestants and why it performs badly. The UK has struggled in recent years, often finishing last or with very low scores, while other countries like Bulgaria have recently won.
Key Facts
The UK finished in the Eurovision top 10 almost every year before 2000 but has only reached top 10 three times since then.
The UK finished last six times between 2003 and 2026, including zero points in 2003 and 2021.
The BBC picks the UK Eurovision acts, with help from record labels or music managers.
A UK parliamentary committee led by Dame Caroline Dinenage is investigating UK Eurovision choices and results.
The committee will hear from BBC leaders and music experts in upcoming months.
In 2026, Bulgaria won Eurovision for the first time, while the UK finished last with a song that received no public votes.
Some countries, such as Ireland, Iceland, and Spain, boycotted the contest due to Israel’s participation amid the Gaza war.
Eurovision voting and participation have become more political in recent years.
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