WORLD IN BRIEF: Spotify to Label AI Artists, Iraq Sets US-led Coalition Exit, 16 Ohio Inmates Hurt by Lightning and other stories

Russia’s Novorossiysk port hit in major Ukrainian attack

A large Ukrainian drone and missile strike on Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk has damaged two major grain export terminals and reportedly hit Russian naval vessels.

Three people, including an eight-year-old child, were killed and 24 others injured, according to local officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation involved missiles, aircraft and naval drones and targeted Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Ukraine’s military said four Russian warships were hit, while Russian authorities have not confirmed the claim. The attack also damaged pipelines and disrupted water supplies in the city.

Novorossiysk has become a key base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet after Ukrainian attacks forced much of the fleet away from Sevastopol. The port is also an important hub for Russian grain exports, prompting Moscow to consider redirecting cargo through Baltic and Caspian ports and land routes.

16 inmates injured after lightning strikes Ohio prison

Sixteen inmates were injured when lightning struck a prison in Ohio during severe storms, with one requiring an airlift to hospital.

Nine inmates have returned to the facility, while seven remain hospitalised, including one in serious condition. The prisoners were outside moving between buildings after dinner when the lightning strike occurred.

The incident came amid severe weather across the US Midwest, where tornadoes, flash floods and strong winds have caused deaths, injuries and widespread damage.

Trump sued over $100,000 Truth Social service

Donald Trump, US President, is facing a lawsuit over a Truth Social subscription service that charges companies up to $100,000 a month for early access to his posts.

The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation filed the case in a New York federal court, arguing that the service gives wealthy subscribers access to potentially market-moving presidential information seconds before the public.

Trump Media & Technology Group rejected the allegations, describing the lawsuit as an attempt by political opponents to censor the president.

Lakers set for record $12.5bn sale

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly set to be sold for $12.5 billion in what would be a record transaction for a sports franchise.

Josh Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger are among the investors buying the controlling interest. The reported deal comes less than a year after Mark Walter acquired a majority stake in the NBA team.

The sale would surpass the previous record valuation for a sports franchise and further highlight the soaring value of major US sports properties.

Spotify to label AI-generated artists

Spotify will begin identifying some AI-generated artists with an “AI Persona” label as part of efforts to give listeners greater transparency.

The label, expected to appear on selected artist profiles from September, will indicate when an artist’s identity may have been generated by AI rather than representing a real person.

The move follows growing concerns from musicians and listeners about AI-generated music and its impact on human artists.

White House expansion costs approach $1bn

The Trump administration is planning to spend nearly $1 billion on construction and expansion work at the White House, including a large ballroom that would replace much of the East Wing, according to documents cited by The Washington Post.

The administration has defended the project as necessary for security and modernisation and has previously said private donors would fund the work.

Iraq Sets September 30 as Final Deadline for US-led Coalition Withdrawal

Iraq has set September 30 as the “fixed and final” deadline for ending the US-led international coalition’s military mission and completing the withdrawal of its forces from the country.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the deadline after meeting US Central Command Commander General Brad Cooper on Wednesday, according to the Iraqi prime minister’s office.

The withdrawal would mark the end of a foreign military presence that dates back to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Baghdad and Washington agreed in 2024 to gradually wind down the coalition’s military operations against ISIL (ISIS).

The Iraqi government said October 1 would mark a “new day” for the country, with Iraq free of foreign military forces.

It also stressed that placing all weapons under the exclusive control of the Iraqi state was essential to moving the country towards greater stability, development and prosperity.

The deadline follows discussions during al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington in July, with both sides reaffirming September 30 as the date for completing the coalition’s military mission and withdrawal.

Colombia declares mourning after deadly earthquake

Colombia has declared three days of national mourning following a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 200 people.

The disaster destroyed or damaged buildings and roads across western Colombia, with more than 2,500 people injured and hundreds still reported missing. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors as authorities assess the scale of the destruction.

The earthquake is an early major crisis for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only days before the disaster.

Lake Kariba ferry disaster kills at least 44

At least 44 people have died after a ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, prompting President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare a state of disaster.

The vessel was carrying passengers and crew when it overturned after being hit by a strong wave. Police said 77 people had been rescued as search and rescue operations continued.

The exact number of people aboard remains unclear, with officials giving different estimates.

DRC Ebola cases rise to 4,449

Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have risen to 4,449, including 2,061 deaths, according to government data.

A separate study published in Nature Medicine found that the current outbreak involves a previously unseen variant of the Bundibugyo species, suggesting it originated through a fresh animal-to-human transmission before spreading between people.

Researchers said genetic sequencing could improve the early detection and containment of future Ebola outbreaks. There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for Bundibugyo Ebola.