Canadian boy dies of rabies months after bat landed on his face

An 11-year-old Canadian boy has died from rabies after being exposed to a bat while staying with his family at a cottage in Ontario, highlighting the deadly consequences of untreated rabies exposure.

According to a case report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the incident occurred in 2024 when the boy woke to find a bat covering his nose and mouth. His father removed the animal and released it outdoors, while the family did not seek medical attention because the child had no visible bite marks and the bat did not appear to be behaving unusually.

Nineteen days later, the boy developed facial numbness and swelling before his condition rapidly deteriorated. Doctors initially misdiagnosed his symptoms as Bell’s palsy and later a herpes-related infection. He eventually developed a high fever, difficulty swallowing, confusion and hallucinations before being admitted to intensive care, where he later died. Medical experts say the case underscores the importance of seeking immediate rabies treatment after any direct contact with bats, even in the absence of visible injuries.

Nearly 1.2 million migrants apply for legal status under Spain’s regularisation scheme

Almost 1.2 million undocumented migrants have applied for legal status in Spain under a government regularisation programme that contrasts sharply with tougher immigration policies being adopted elsewhere in Europe.

The initiative, launched in April by the government of Pedro Sánchez, Spain prime minister, received 1,174,978 applications before the application window closed at the end of June. More than 600,000 applications are already being processed, according to the country’s Secretary of State for Migration.
Migrants from Latin America accounted for 67 percent of applications, with Colombians making up more than a quarter of the total, while African nationals represented nearly 23 percent. Most applicants were under the age of 45. Although the number of applications exceeded expectations, the government estimates that about 500,000 people will ultimately qualify after meeting requirements including proof of a clean criminal record and continuous residence in Spain before January.

Starmer apologises for UK’s role in decades of forced adoptions

Keir Starmer, United Kingdom Prime Minister has issued a formal state apology for the forced adoption of thousands of babies born to unmarried mothers in the decades following the Second World War, describing the policy as a shameful chapter in British history.

Between 1949 and 1976, an estimated 185,000 children were taken from their mothers under a system supported by the government and religious institutions. Many of the women, some still teenagers, were pressured into surrendering their babies after being placed in church-run mother and baby homes.

Addressing Parliament, Starmer acknowledged that the state had failed to protect vulnerable mothers and families, offering what he described as a profound apology to everyone affected. His statement follows a recent apology by the Church of England for its role in operating institutions where women were frequently separated from their newborn children against their wishes.

Explosion tears through Damascus café, killing at least six people

At least six people have been killed and more than 20 others injured after an explosion ripped through a café in central Damascus, Syrian authorities said.

The blast occurred on al-Nasser Street in the busy al-Marjah district near the Palace of Justice during the afternoon. Syrian state television reported that the explosion was caused by an explosive device, although officials have not identified those responsible.
Images from the scene showed extensive destruction inside the café as emergency workers rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals. Authorities have launched an investigation and are reviewing surveillance footage from government and private security cameras to determine who carried out the attack.

Russia launches deadliest attack on Kyiv this year, killing at least 25

Russia has carried out its deadliest assault on Kyiv this year, launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an overnight bombardment that killed at least 25 people and injured scores more.

The attack damaged around 130 buildings across the Ukrainian capital, with powerful explosions sending residents into underground shelters and metro stations as thick smoke blanketed the skyline.

Ukrainian officials said rescue workers were continuing to search through collapsed buildings for survivors, warning that the death toll could increase. The large-scale strike marks another escalation in Russia’s air campaign against Ukraine despite ongoing international efforts to secure a ceasefire.

AFRICA

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger begin formal withdrawal from ICC

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have officially begun the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), deepening their break with international institutions amid ongoing security crises in the Sahel.

The ICC confirmed that the three military-led governments had submitted formal notices initiating the one-year withdrawal process from the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the court. The countries had previously accused the ICC of serving as an instrument of “neo-colonial repression.”

The court warned that the departures could weaken global efforts to hold perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable. All three countries continue to battle Islamist insurgencies, while human rights organisations have accused both militants and government forces of committing serious abuses.

Somalia peacekeeping mission faces uncertainty after US blocks UN support

The future of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia has been thrown into doubt after the United States indicated it would oppose continued United Nations funding for the operation from next year.

The nearly 12,000-member force plays a central role in supporting Somalia’s government against al-Shabaab militants, who continue to control significant areas of the country and regularly launch attacks on government positions.

Officials familiar with the decision warned that losing UN backing could effectively end the mission, raising concerns over Somalia’s security gains and the government’s ability to contain the extremist group without international assistance.

Ghana, South Africa clash over reported killing of migrant

A diplomatic dispute has emerged between Ghana and South Africa after conflicting accounts over the reported killing of a Ghanaian national during recent anti-migrant protests.

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it had lodged a formal protest after receiving reports that 40-year-old Bashiru Isak was shot dead in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township. South African authorities, however, denied any record of such an incident and accused Ghana of circulating inaccurate information.

Police confirmed they are instead investigating the fatal shooting of another Ghanaian national, Kwabena Boagen, who was killed in an alleged extortion-related attack in the nearby Nyanga township.

Authorities have appealed to Ghana to provide additional evidence if it possesses information about the alleged Khayelitsha killing.

Mali creates new agency to formalise artisanal gold sector

Mali has established a new state agency to regulate its vast artisanal gold mining industry as part of efforts to reduce smuggling and increase government revenue from one of the country’s most valuable natural resources.

The newly created Malian Office of Precious Substances will oversee and centralise gold trading after authorities identified significant differences between officially declared exports and import figures reported by foreign countries.

A recent report estimated that between 30 and 57 tonnes of Malian gold worth billions of dollars are exported unofficially each year. Artisanal mining employs nearly two million people across hundreds of sites, making it a vital sector of the economy despite widespread informal trading and illicit exports.

UN to close Burkina Faso human rights office after government suspension

The United Nations Human Rights Office has announced it will shut its operations in Burkina Faso by the end of November after authorities indefinitely suspended its activities.

Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said he deeply regretted the decision, noting that months of engagement with the Burkinabe government had failed to resolve the dispute.

The suspension followed a UN statement urging Burkina Faso’s military-led authorities to protect civic freedoms and human rights.

The closure comes amid growing tensions between the country’s government and international organisations as Burkina Faso continues to confront escalating jihadist violence and political instability.