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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An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, pleaded not guilty to charges including murder in the death of 17-year-old Thai girl Tunchanok Donhomla. Her body was found in a suitcase in Pattaya, Thailand, where the case is now being heard in court.
Key Facts
Simon Peter Carman, 45, was arrested in June in Pattaya, Thailand.
The victim, Tunchanok Donhomla, was 17 years old and reported missing in Pattaya City.
Her body was found inside a suitcase shortly after she went missing.
Police said she died from suffocation.
Carman faces charges of murder, hiding a body, and taking a minor for indecent reasons.
CCTV footage showed Carman entering a condominium with the girl and leaving with a large suitcase later that same day.
Carman told police he acted in self-defense because the girl threatened him with a knife.
The next court hearing is scheduled for October 12.
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Firefighters in Marrero, Louisiana, found an African serval, a wild cat from sub-Saharan Africa, kept illegally in a small backyard enclosure while responding to a house fire. Animal welfare workers took the serval to a care facility to find it a better home.
Key Facts
The serval was found in a cramped fenced enclosure behind a home in Marrero, near New Orleans.
The homeowner did not have the required exotic animal permit to keep the serval.
Animal welfare officials safely captured the serval and moved it to a local animal protection facility.
Servals are wild cats known for jumping up to 7 feet in the air and are originally from African grasslands.
Although servals share some cat-like behaviors, they do not adapt well to living as pets and can cause damage and stress without proper care.
The welfare agency is seeking a suitable place for the serval, possibly a zoo, but no final decision has been made yet.
Servals have been increasingly popular as exotic pets, partly due to social media videos.
Previous serval-related incidents in the U.S. have drawn public attention, including one that tested positive for cocaine and another animal that was fatally hit by a vehicle.
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Billionaire Robert Kraft pressured Ed Sheeran to remove rapper Macklemore from his tour because of Macklemore’s support for Palestine. Macklemore’s removal caused many artists to leave the tour in protest, and Macklemore pledged to donate his tour earnings to Palestinian causes.
Key Facts
Robert Kraft pushed to have Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour due to Macklemore’s pro-Palestine views.
Ed Sheeran agreed to remove Macklemore after venues threatened to cancel shows.
Several opening acts and Sheeran’s live band quit the tour to support Macklemore and Palestine.
Macklemore continues to speak out about the situation in Gaza despite being removed from the tour.
Macklemore pledged to donate $1 million earned from the tour to organizations supporting Palestinians.
Kraft said Sheeran asked him to contribute $2 million, implying a potential donation offer from Kraft.
The article links Kraft’s actions to a broader trend of wealthy people trying to silence criticism of Israel.
The Trump administration has taken measures that some say restrict free speech related to pro-Palestinian views.
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Iranian actress Laleh Marzban received the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her role in the movie Falling House. After her speech supporting Iranian women’s freedom, Iran’s authorities and state media strongly criticized her and called for punishment.
Key Facts
Laleh Marzban won best actress in the Orizzonti competition at the Venice Film Festival.
Her film, Falling House, is about women trapped by their family’s father in a patriarchal household.
In her acceptance speech, Marzban dedicated her award to Iranian women paying a high price for freedom and encouraged hope.
Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution condemned her speech as a “one-sided narrative.”
State media called her hypocritical and urged the government to restrict her work or keep her out of Iran.
The film and speech highlight ongoing struggles for women’s rights in Iran.
The reaction mirrored criticism of other films addressing political and social issues in the region.
Marzban expressed hope that her actions would inspire others to take small steps toward progress.
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A humpback whale has been spotted swimming far from its usual home in the Pacific Ocean, near Northern California. This unusual visit has attracted attention and interest from people in the area.
Key Facts
The whale is a humpback, a large species known for their long pectoral fins and distinctive songs.
It has traveled dozens of miles away from its normal ocean habitat.
The sighting took place off the coast of Northern California.
The whale’s presence has caused excitement and curiosity among local residents and observers.
Watching a whale so far from its usual area is rare and newsworthy.
Humpback whales often migrate but this trip appears to be unusual.
The story was covered by ABC News reporter Danny New.
The event happened recently, as of September 18, 2026.
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Russia began a three-day parliamentary election during wartime, with President Vladimir Putin calling it a test of public support for the war in Ukraine. The election excludes most anti-war candidates, and it is the first since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Key Facts
The election in Russia is held over three days.
It is the first parliamentary vote since the full-scale war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
President Vladimir Putin described the election as a measure of support for the war.
Most candidates opposing the war were not allowed to participate.
The election is tightly controlled by the Kremlin.
The results are unlikely to reflect true public opinion about Putin or the war.
The vote aims to reinforce the Kremlin’s hold on power during the conflict.
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Spanish police in Ceuta have started moving hundreds of migrants from the beaches to a new tent camp in the port area. Thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco in late July, and several thousand remain in Ceuta, often living in difficult conditions.
Key Facts
Police began relocating migrants from the beaches to a new tent camp on September 18, 2026.
The new camp at Los Rosales has tents, showers, and beds for around 1,700 people.
Several thousand migrants remain in Ceuta after tens of thousands crossed from Morocco in late July.
Most migrants quickly returned to Morocco, but many stayed and were living on the beaches.
Ceuta’s local authorities and the Spanish central government disagree on the exact number of migrants remaining.
The Spanish government proceeded with the move despite opposition from local conservative leaders.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has faced criticism over how the migrant situation is managed.
The crisis has also caused tensions between Spain and Italy, leading Italy to restore some border controls temporarily.
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Electronic voting machines in several polling stations in Moscow stopped working during the first day of Russia's parliamentary elections. Election officials could not fix the machines, and some devices showed error messages to voters.
Key Facts
The voting machines stopped working simultaneously at several locations in Moscow.
Election officials were unable to reboot or fix the machines during the voting.
Some devices showed a message saying, "voter not found, please contact the precinct election commission chairperson."
Other machines experienced glitches but continued to work.
The elections are expected to secure the ruling United Russia party's control of the State Duma.
Only a few opposition parties permitted by the Kremlin are participating in the election.
The parliamentary election will last for three days starting from Friday.
The election is seen as a way for President Vladimir Putin to strengthen his control.
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South Africa has found nine women dead in the Ekurhuleni municipality over about two months, raising concerns about violence against women. Police are investigating if these murders are linked or the work of multiple attackers, while officials and groups say this reflects a wider, serious problem of violence against women in the country.
Key Facts
Nine women have been found dead in the Ekurhuleni area near Johannesburg in roughly two months.
The latest victim was discovered in Dawn Park, Boksburg, and was in her thirties.
Police have not confirmed if the murders are connected or done by one person or several.
The South African Police Service is carefully investigating the cases, considering different possibilities.
Officials describe the killings as part of a broader crisis of violence against women in South Africa.
Women often change their daily routines to stay safe, but organizations say this shifts blame onto victims instead of perpetrators.
One victim, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, disappeared on a run and was found dead three days later after her daughter raised an alarm.
Support groups report more women contacting helplines with severe abuse cases, showing that violence against women is widespread.
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A United Nations mission reported that there are reasonable grounds to believe the United States carried out two military strikes in Iran on a school and sports facility in February. The mission also found that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their harsh crackdown on protests.
Key Facts
The UN fact-finding team investigated events in Iran.
The team believes the US was responsible for two attacks on civilian sites in Iran.
The attacks involved a school and a sports facility.
The strikes occurred in February 2026.
These actions are considered possible war crimes according to the UN mission.
Iranian authorities were found to have committed crimes against humanity during protests.
The crackdown by Iran was deadly and targeted anti-government protesters.
The report was released on September 18, 2026.
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Since July, about 125,000 people, including over 57,000 children, have fled fighting in Yemen between the Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government with Saudi Arabia’s support. Many refugees are making a risky journey across the Bab el-Mandeb strait to Djibouti, often facing extreme heat and lack of water.
Key Facts
Fighting in Yemen began in July involving Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government backed by Saudi Arabia.
Around 125,000 people have left their homes because of the conflict.
More than 57,000 of the displaced are children.
Refugees are crossing the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a dangerous sea route, to reach Djibouti.
Many refugees face extreme heat and have very little water during their journey.
The United Nations says this is one of the fastest and most unstable movements of people in Yemen in recent years.
The conflict is linked to Iran-backed Houthis fighting against the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia.
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Russia is holding parliamentary elections where many candidates are military veterans from the war in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin wants these veterans to form a strong group in government to support ongoing war efforts and related policies.
Key Facts
Russians are voting to choose a new parliament for the first time since the war in Ukraine started.
Over 180 candidates linked to the Ukraine war are running in the election.
President Putin wants war veterans to be political leaders and fast-tracked into important roles.
The ruling party, United Russia, is expected to win most seats easily.
Opposition parties that criticize the war, like Yabloko, were removed from the ballot.
Independent polls show most Russians support the war but are unhappy about economic problems it caused.
Many Russians want some military funding shifted to healthcare, education, and pensions.
The new parliament will stay in place until after the 2030 presidential election, helping to maintain strong war support.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to transfer the Russian operations of Swiss company Nestle and three French firms to a new Russian company called LEV Management. This move is part of Russia’s response to Western sanctions and follows a pattern of Russia seizing or controlling the Russian businesses of Western companies since the Ukraine war began.
Key Facts
President Putin approved a decree to transfer assets of Nestle and three French companies (Auchan, Lemana Pro, and FM Logistic) in Russia to LEV Management.
LEV Management was created at the end of 2025 and is led by a Russian interior ministry general.
Many Western companies sold or isolated their Russian operations after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia now restricts companies from leaving by requiring presidential approval or by seizing their assets.
Nestle said it is working to protect its rights and maintain business operations in Russia.
Nestle’s sales in Russia now account for about 1% of its total sales, down from 2% before the Ukraine war.
Auchan and Leroy Merlin, both owned by the French Mulliez family, have about a dozen outlets each in Russia.
This seizure follows Russia’s 2023 takeover of Danone’s Russian business, later sold to a relative of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
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The Kremlin has tightened control ahead of Russia's Duma elections to prevent any sign of public protest. Opposition parties, including the antiwar Yabloko and some candidates from the Communist Party, have faced bans, arrests, and restrictions to ensure the election shows strong support for President Putin and the ruling United Russia party.
Key Facts
The Kremlin increased election controls called “ballot sterilisation” to reduce risks of protest votes.
Opposition candidates, including some from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), were arrested or barred from running.
Yabloko, the only openly antiwar registered party, was initially allowed to run but then banned by the Supreme Court.
Yabloko’s antiwar stance sparked a sudden rise in public interest and online searches before its ban.
The CPRF is the second-largest party and is more critical of the government locally but not openly antiwar.
Some CPRF candidates were removed from the ballot, and the party faced campaign restrictions.
The Kremlin uses administrative pressure, electronic voting, extended voting periods, and no independent observers to control election outcomes.
The government aims to present election results that show national unity and strong support for President Putin and United Russia.
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