LAS News Desk
The LAS News Desk is the newsroom of LAS News, led by Editor & Founder Lawal Ayo. The desk covers world affairs, Nigeria and Africa, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and games, and links the original reporting behind every story. See our editorial policy and corrections.
Arsenal secure 3-0 Champions League victory over Lille at Emirates
Arsenal completed a flawless start to the Champions League group stage with a 3-0 win over Lille, scoring three times in a seven‑minute spell in the second half, while Atletico Madrid edged Manchester United 2-0 on the same night.
14 Oct 2026, 08:20 WAT · 3 sources
Martinez blames United hierarchy after 2‑0 Champions League loss to Atlético
Lisandro Martínez criticised Manchester United’s leadership for insufficient summer signings following a 2‑0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, calling the club’s lack of investment a reflection of its current state.
14 Oct 2026, 08:17 WAT · 3 sources
OpenAI engineer arrested for allegedly installing covert audio bug in San Francisco office
U.S. authorities have charged a Saudi‑born OpenAI engineer with placing a hidden recording device in an executive conference room, prompting the company to terminate his employment and cooperate with the FBI.
14 Oct 2026, 08:13 WAT · 7 sources
Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Successful Lung Tumour Removal
The 71‑year‑old pontiff had a cancerous tumour removed from the lower lobe of his right lung in a 90‑minute operation at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The surgery was complication‑free and doctors are now testing for spread.
14 Oct 2026, 07:51 WAT · 2 sources
Nigerian Senate advances bill to decriminalise attempted suicide amid presidential opposition
The Senate has approved a second‑reading vote on legislation to remove criminal penalties for attempted suicide, though Senate President Godswill Akpabio continues to argue for imprisonment of survivors. The bill now moves to committee review.
14 Oct 2026, 07:47 WAT · 2 sources
IMF and UK officials warn of rising debt costs and cyber‑fraud risks as developing nations face financing squeeze
The International Monetary Fund and senior UK officials highlighted growing pressures from higher government borrowing costs and cyber‑attack threats, while Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called for a new global deal to ease debt burdens on developing countries.
14 Oct 2026, 07:46 WAT · 2 sources
Trump announces large‑scale oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland after security pact
President Donald Trump said a major resource exploration programme is set to start in Greenland, a claim made shortly after the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement that expands U.S. military access to the island.
14 Oct 2026, 07:46 WAT · 2 sources
Nigeria's government mandates four-year degree programmes be completed within four years
The federal government announced that all four-year degree courses must be finished in the prescribed period, unveiling new agreements with university, polytechnic and college staff unions and expanding a monitoring committee to curb strikes, according to statements from the Minister of Education.
14 Oct 2026, 07:46 WAT · 2 sources
Federal judge prolongs injunction against Trump’s White House press ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico
A U.S. District Judge has extended a preliminary injunction that blocks President Donald Trump’s revocation of White House press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, citing likely violations of due‑process and First Amendment rights.
14 Oct 2026, 07:45 WAT · 7 sources
Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Leads New Rebel Coalition with M23
Joseph Kabila, former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been announced as head of a new rebel coalition that includes the M23 group, pledging to use force to overthrow the current government, according to France 24 and BBC Africa.
14 Oct 2026, 07:17 WAT · 2 sources
Super Falcons advance to Olympic third round as captain Ajibade hospitalized after injury
Nigeria's women's team secured a 7‑0 aggregate win over Comoros to reach the next stage of the 2028 Olympic qualifiers, but the match was overshadowed by captain Rasheedat Ajibade's injury and hospital visit.
14 Oct 2026, 07:17 WAT · 2 sources
Shell agrees to transfer its Nigerian gas distribution arm to Vaaris Energy
Shell Plc has signed an agreement to sell its entire stake in the Shell Nigeria Gas Group to local firm Vaaris Energy, pending regulatory approval, as part of a broader portfolio simplification strategy.
14 Oct 2026, 07:16 WAT · 2 sources
NAFDAC seizes over N2 billion of counterfeit alcohol and arrests two suspects in Lagos market raid
The agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate intercepted illegal alcohol operations worth more than N2 billion at the International Trade Fair Complex, uncovering makeshift stores and detaining two individuals linked to counterfeit production.
14 Oct 2026, 07:16 WAT · 2 sources
Anthropic warns that AI ‘worms’ could self‑replicate across smart home devices within months
Anthropic’s safety team says small artificial‑intelligence models may soon be able to copy themselves and spread through internet‑connected appliances, raising concerns about control and security.
14 Oct 2026, 07:15 WAT · 3 sources
United defender Martinez condemns board’s transfer policy after Atletico defeat
Lisandro Martinez criticised Manchester United’s hierarchy for not strengthening the squad following a 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid, highlighting a five‑match winless run and calling out technical director Jason Wilcox.
14 Oct 2026, 07:15 WAT · 5 sources
Pope Leo XIV undergoes successful lung surgery after early‑stage cancer detection
The 71‑year‑old pontiff was operated on at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove a lower lobe of his right lung, confirming a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican described the 90‑minute procedure as successful and said further tests will follow.
14 Oct 2026, 07:15 WAT · 8 sources
Former DRC President Kabila launches new front uniting AFC and M23 factions
Joseph Kabila announced the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation in Goma, bringing together key AFC and M23 figures in a political‑military platform that challenges President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, amid ongoing peace efforts and a death sentence in absentia.
14 Oct 2026, 06:37 WAT · 2 sources
Netflix secures rights to stream entire 2030 World Cup in Spain and Andorra
Netflix has obtained exclusive rights to broadcast all 104 matches of the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup for viewers in Spain and Andorra, offering one free match per day and a suite of ancillary programming as part of its expanding sports portfolio.
14 Oct 2026, 06:37 WAT · 2 sources
Raye’s Royal Albert Hall ticket sign‑up swamped by AI‑driven bots, prompting manual review
The singer Raye reported that AI bots generated hundreds of thousands of fake registrations, inflating sign‑ups to 1.8 million for her 5,000‑seat Royal Albert Hall concert on 23 October, leading organisers to vet entries manually.
14 Oct 2026, 06:37 WAT · 2 sources
Renowned FPS map creator Richard “Levelord” Gray dies at age 60
The gaming community mourns the loss of Richard Gray, known as “Levelord,” whose pioneering work on Duke Nukem 3D, Quake and other titles reshaped first‑person shooter level design.
14 Oct 2026, 06:36 WAT · 2 sources
Actress Selma Blair charged with assault after disruptive Delta flight and post‑landing incidents
Selma Blair, 54, was arrested in New York following an alleged altercation with flight attendants on a Los Angeles‑to‑New York Delta flight and later faced two additional assault counts for allegedly kicking a police officer and a nurse after the aircraft landed.
14 Oct 2026, 06:36 WAT · 2 sources
Veterans block Abuja pensions board over disputed adjustment formula
Military retirees sealed the Military Pensions Board office in Abuja on 13‑14 October, alleging that the formula used for recent pension adjustments left many underpaid and calling for a forensic audit, while the board maintains it applied the approved rates.
14 Oct 2026, 06:36 WAT · 2 sources
Actor RJ Mitte, famed for Breaking Bad role, dies at 34 in Texas
RJ Mitte, the actor who portrayed Walter White Jr. and championed disability rights, was found dead in Brownsville, Texas, with his publicist confirming he took his own life. Police reported no foul play and an autopsy is planned.
14 Oct 2026, 05:31 WAT · 2 sources
Man dies after entering tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
A 23‑year‑old man was killed when he breached the fence of a Siberian tiger’s pen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday, prompting a health‑and‑safety inquiry and the park’s closure.
14 Oct 2026, 05:30 WAT · 2 sources
Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles, reports building damage and injuries in Dhahran and Riyadh
Saudi authorities said Houthi missiles aimed at Riyadh and Dhahran were intercepted, causing limited fire at an Aramco administrative building in Dhahran and wounding four people in the capital. The incidents prompted comments from the IMF on potential global energy impacts.
14 Oct 2026, 05:30 WAT · 2 sources
Japanese reporter detained in Russia on espionage accusations amid Kuril dispute
A Hokkaido Shimbun journalist, Yuki Imai, was arrested in Sakhalin on charges of gathering defence information for Japan, with Russian authorities planning a trial later this year, while diplomatic tensions over the Kuril Islands continue to rise.
14 Oct 2026, 05:30 WAT · 2 sources
Trump grants on‑stage pardons to Alaska diesel‑shop owners during campaign rally
President Donald Trump pardoned two Alaska auto‑shop owners who had pleaded guilty to Clean Air Act violations, handing the clemency documents to them on stage at a pre‑midterm rally in Wasilla, while also referencing a third co‑owner who was pardoned earlier.
14 Oct 2026, 05:29 WAT · 3 sources
French supermarkets suffer massive food loss after cyber‑attack disables refrigeration
A coordinated cyber‑attack forced refrigeration units in hundreds of French supermarkets to heat up, spoiling fresh and frozen goods worth millions of euros and prompting emergency disconnections across several retail chains.
14 Oct 2026, 04:40 WAT · 2 sources
Netflix releases first trailer for Greta Gerwig's Narnia prequel
Netflix has unveiled the initial trailer for Greta Gerwig's adaptation of C.S. Lewis's The Magician’s Nephew, confirming a 2027 release on its platform and in IMAX and outlining the film’s cast and musical direction.
14 Oct 2026, 04:40 WAT · 2 sources
Post‑tropical Cyclone Rachel leaves homes damaged and streets flooded across Southern California and Las Vegas
Intense waves and flash flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel have damaged beachfront properties, destroyed a Long Beach boardwalk and flooded parts of Las Vegas, with officials reporting several structures at risk of collapse.
14 Oct 2026, 04:39 WAT · 2 sources
Trump administration requests resignation of US ambassador to Greece amid ethics allegations
President Donald Trump’s team has asked ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle to step down following reports that she solicited a donor for personal debt relief and accepted costly hospitality from Greek businessmen; Guilfoyle denies the claims and says she will defend her reputation.
14 Oct 2026, 04:38 WAT · 5 sources
Epic Games shifts to AI‑first development for Disney shooter, project delayed
Epic Games is moving its high‑profile Marvel and Star Wars shooter with Disney to an AI‑first development model, replacing hand‑written code and traditional art, and the title has been postponed indefinitely, according to Bloomberg and company statements.
14 Oct 2026, 04:27 WAT · 2 sources
IMF lifts UK 2026 growth outlook to 1.3% as it warns of global economic strain
The International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for UK GDP growth in 2026 to 1.3% and urged the Labour government to maintain its fiscal consolidation, while warning that low oil inventories and stretched public finances could test worldwide resilience.
14 Oct 2026, 04:27 WAT · 2 sources
Glen Schofield blames Krafton for rushed release of The Callisto Protocol
The Callisto Protocol’s creator says Krafton’s management forced a premature launch amid COVID‑19 disruptions, after retracting promised development extensions.
14 Oct 2026, 04:26 WAT · 2 sources
TFG London investigates cyber‑attack on Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles
TFG London, the UK arm of The Foschini Group, confirmed a cybersecurity incident that disrupted the websites and some IT systems of its Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles brands, prompting a pause to online orders while stores stayed open.
14 Oct 2026, 04:26 WAT · 2 sources
Rwanda secures decade‑long deal to host Formula 1 African Grand Prix in early 2030s
Rwanda has signed a ten‑year agreement with Formula 1 to stage the African Grand Prix on a new circuit near Kigali, marking the sport’s first race on the continent since 1993, though the move has drawn criticism over alleged sports‑washing.
14 Oct 2026, 04:26 WAT · 2 sources
Epic Games pushes AI tools as unannounced Marvel‑Star Wars shooter faces delay
Epic Games has reportedly postponed its collaborative shooter with Disney, originally set for March 2027, and is urging developers to adopt an "AI‑first" workflow, including the use of Anthropic's Claude, according to Bloomberg reporting.
14 Oct 2026, 04:25 WAT · 2 sources
US defence secretary’s proposed execution livestream sparks ethical and psychological concerns
Pete Hegseth’s plan to broadcast the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan has attracted condemnation from human‑rights organisations and politicians, while experts say the event would likely draw large audiences but could cause serious mental‑health harm.
14 Oct 2026, 04:25 WAT · 2 sources
BBC abandons Birmingham studio plan for The Archers amid cost cuts
The corporation has cancelled its proposal to build a dedicated studio for the long‑running radio drama in Birmingham, opening the possibility that future recordings will take place elsewhere in the UK. Cast members and the Equity union have expressed strong opposition to the move.
14 Oct 2026, 04:25 WAT · 2 sources
Super Falcons secure third‑round Olympic qualifier spot after 5‑0 win over Comoros
Nigeria's women's team defeated Comoros 5‑0 in the second leg of the 2028 Olympic qualifiers, sealing a 7‑0 aggregate triumph and setting up a third‑round clash with Morocco, according to Daily Trust and Channels TV.
14 Oct 2026, 04:25 WAT · 2 sources
Doug Field appointed president of Rivian’s Mind Robotics venture
Rivian’s industrial AI and robotics spin‑out, Mind Robotics, has named former Ford EV chief Doug Field as its president, a move announced at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 and noted by multiple tech outlets.
14 Oct 2026, 04:25 WAT · 2 sources
Manchester City set to host PSG amid financial breach fallout
Manchester City will face Paris Saint‑Germain in a Champions League tie, their first home game since an independent commission found them guilty of extensive financial rule breaches, while PSG manager Luis Enrique hopes sanctions are avoided.
14 Oct 2026, 04:24 WAT · 2 sources
Six Flags suspends nine rides after fatal Georgia coaster crash, stock drops sharply
A man died and several others were injured when he fell from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, prompting the chain to close nine similar attractions across six parks and causing its shares to fall more than 14% on Tuesday.
14 Oct 2026, 04:24 WAT · 2 sources
UK Prime Minister Burnham to Host Zelenskyy at Downing Street, Reaffirming Long‑Term Support
Andy Burnham will receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at No 10 on Wednesday, signalling continued British backing for Kyiv amid recent tensions involving Donald Trump’s diesel agreement with Russia, according to UK media reports.
14 Oct 2026, 04:24 WAT · 2 sources
Former Kaduna Governor Accused of Allocating $600,000 to Influence EFCC Probe
A forensic investigator from the Department of State Services testified that ex‑governor Nasir El‑Rufai set aside $600,000 to pay Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials and intermediaries, a claim that remains unproven in court.
14 Oct 2026, 04:24 WAT · 2 sources
Senator Jon Ossoff Reaffirms Commitment to Full Senate Term Amid 2028 Presidency Rumours
Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff has publicly dismissed speculation about a 2028 presidential bid, pledging to serve a complete six‑year Senate term if re‑elected in November, according to statements made during a campaign debate.
14 Oct 2026, 04:24 WAT · 2 sources
Russian missile strikes hit Kyiv power plant, killing two and injuring dozens
A Russian ballistic missile hit the Darnytska CHP‑4 power plant and a nearby apartment block in Kyiv, causing two deaths and around twenty injuries, while Ukrainian officials criticised the lack of early warning from Western partners. The attack follows a U.S.‑announced energy ceasefire that has not halted strikes on infrastructure.
14 Oct 2026, 04:17 WAT · 2 sources
Trump says Taiwan will secure 30% of Alaska LNG output for 20 years
President Donald Trump announced at an Alaskan rally that Taiwan has agreed to purchase a third of the gas from the proposed Alaska LNG project, with a $4.4 billion investment alongside South Korea's earlier commitment.
14 Oct 2026, 04:17 WAT · 2 sources
Manchester United lose 2-0 to Atletico Madrid as red card deepens winless run
Manchester United were beaten 2-0 by Atletico Madrid in a Champions League match, conceding within the first minute and later reduced to ten men after a controversial dismissal, extending their winless streak under manager Michael Carrick.
14 Oct 2026, 04:16 WAT · 2 sources
McIlroy says LIV Golf’s concept was flawed but welcomes its players back to the DP World Tour
Rory McIlroy described LIV Golf as a partially sound idea that was poorly executed, noting that the breakaway circuit no longer threatens traditional tours and that he would support former LIV players rejoining the DP World Tour.
14 Oct 2026, 04:16 WAT · 2 sources
Drake Bell criticises SAG‑AFTRA after health plan eligibility shortfall
The former Nickelodeon star revealed his earnings did not meet the union’s health‑insurance threshold and used the platform to warn others against joining SAG‑AFTRA, while the union has not responded.
14 Oct 2026, 04:15 WAT · 3 sources
Former gang leader Duane Davis receives minimum 40‑year sentence for 1996 Tupac Shakur killing
A Las Vegas judge sentenced Duane “Keffe D” Davis to at least 40 years in prison for orchestrating the 1996 drive‑by murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, concluding a three‑decade investigation.
14 Oct 2026, 04:14 WAT · 5 sources
Independent Football Regulator warns English clubs face mounting financial risk
The IFR’s draft ‘State of the Game’ report finds that most clubs in England’s top five divisions are loss‑making, with debt set to exceed £5bn, prompting calls for urgent action before broadcast revenues fall.
14 Oct 2026, 04:12 WAT · 2 sources
UK intelligence confirms Russian meddling in Brexit vote but finds little effect
MI5 director-general Ken McCallum said Moscow attempted to influence the 2016 EU referendum through state media and social‑media trolls, but assessments indicate the campaign did not alter the outcome, a view echoed by the prime minister and opposition figures.
14 Oct 2026, 04:12 WAT · 4 sources