Saturday, 26 September 2026
The day in world news is shaped by mass public events and sudden disruptions, from a huge papal gathering in Paris to deadly violence, severe weather and strategic tension in the Gulf. It is also a day of pressure on infrastructure and institutions, with transport delays and evacuations exposing how quickly plans can be upended.
Donald Trump rejects Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days as part of an effort to end hostilities. Speaking outside the White House, he says he turns down both the proposal and the deal, while also signaling that he remains open to future agreements.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates a vast open-air Mass on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, drawing one of the largest public gatherings of the day. Estimates of the crowd range from about 600,000 to 800,000, underscoring the scale of the event in the center of the French capital.
A building explosion in Athens’ Plaka district near the Acropolis kills six people and reduces the structure to rubble. The dead include a British man and his Greek wife, a couple in their 70s who lived in the building near Hadrian’s Gate, as emergency crews recover bodies from the site.
Heavy rain and flooding hit Bangkok, submerging streets, snarling traffic and forcing evacuations in parts of the Thai capital. Residents leave homes as water levels rise, adding pressure on city authorities dealing with fast-changing conditions across several affected areas.
A nor’easter pushes into the U.S. Northeast, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and power outages, with coastal New Jersey already seeing roads underwater and some homes taking on water. Conditions are expected to worsen through the weekend as the storm develops.
Heathrow delays its long-planned third runway by about four years, pushing the target opening date to 2039 from 2035. Airport leaders tell the government the earlier deadline is difficult to meet, extending uncertainty around one of Britain’s most consequential transport expansion projects.
Japan’s Yuki Kurihara wins Asian Games esports gold in Nagoya at just 11 years old, taking the title in Puyo Puyo Champions. He is identified as the youngest competitor at the Games, making the victory a standout moment for the host nation.
Recap for Saturday, 26 September 2026
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