World in brief: October 1, 2026

Middle East / 1 October 2026 Iran celebrates withdrawal of US from Iraq as ‘historic victory’ 1 October 2026 Middle East / 1 October 2026 Netanyahu says its too early to say Iran was involved in Flydubai flight drama 1 October 2026 Climate Crisis / 1 October 2026 Swiss glaciers have lost over 5 per cent of ice volume this year, say experts 1 October 2026 US / 1 October 2026 California governor signs law to protect workers from AI risks 1 October 2026 Central Asia / 1 October 2026 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan kill at least 9 1 October 2026 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A Tokyo court has awarded legal protection to the human voice in a landmark case in which, Kenjiro Tsuda, a popular Japanese anime voice actor demanded that TikTok close an account over its unauthorised use of artificial intelligence clone of his voice.

The Tokyo District Court’s decision on Wednesday was the first acknowledgment of the right to one’s voice in Japan. 

SYRIA: At least seven people were killed late on Wednesday when attackers opened fire at a passenger bus in north-western Syria, local media reported.

Four people were wounded in the gun attack near the Masyaf Bridge in the western Syrian province of Homs late on Wednesday, the Sana news agency reported.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. 

DEATH ROW: Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike has been taken to hospital after an attempt to execute her by two lethal injections failed, her lawyer says.

Ms Pike’s legal team filed an emergency motion to halt the convicted murderer’s execution as it was happening, saying: “Ms Pike has lost consciousness and still has a heartbeat and is audibly snoring.”

One of her attorneys said that Ms Pike was now “being provided life-saving measures” in hospital after two syringes of pentobarbital had been administered.

UNITED STATES: The approval rating for United States President Donald Trump continues to nosedive.

A new poll released today by Associated Press-Norc Centre for Public Affairs finds that only 17 per cent of US adults approve of his handling of the cost of living. Just 26 per cent approve of his handling of the economy overall, marking a new low.