International news from Friday, September 25th, 2026

The World Health Organization said on Friday that the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to two additional health zones, bringing the total number affected to 63 across seven provinces.

Five people were missing on Friday after an explosion caused a residential building to collapse in a touristic area of central Athens, injuring three people and damaging houses, shops and cars across a historic neighbourhood.

Thirteen people, including three army officers, were killed on Friday when a military plane crashed in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Authorities in Kazakhstan have detained five Defence Ministry officials including the first deputy navy commander, a day after 14 servicemen were swept out to sea and died during a training exercise.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a forceful defence of Israel's actions in the region at the UN, seeking to counter growing international isolation ahead of elections he could lose, as dozens of delegates streamed out.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping drank tea at the White House on Friday and visited the National Archives, capping a three-day summit that showcased personal diplomacy rather than big breakthroughs in economic relations.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned that the Palestinian economy is currently facing “the most severe economic crisis recorded anywhere in the world", with an estimate $71.5 billion needed for recovery.

Jailed former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has asked a court to suspend a 15-year prison sentence imposed on him for his involvement in a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal, his lawyer said on Friday, a week after he received a royal pardon on a separate conviction.

France will send troops and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, which is key for energy transport, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.