One more day before the end of the year, the world mourns with two sad news.
Both have become “icons” in their fields for many years, highlighting the problems facing the world.
You’re reading The World Today, a roundup of top stories from the past 24 hours, Friday 30 December issue.
The legendary soccer player of the world has passed away
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, has died at the age of 82.
The three-time World Cup winner and dubbed the greatest footballer of the 20th century was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo last November for cancer treatment.
Medical reports stated that Pele died at 03:27 local time due to organ failure due to colon cancer.
“In his travels, Edson dazzled the world with his sporting genius, stopped wars, gave charity work around the world, and spread what he believed above all to be the cure for all ailments, namely the love,” read a statement on Instagram.
British fashion personality dies
Vivienne Westwood, one of the biggest names in the British fashion industry, has died at the age of 81.
The death of Vivienne, also an activist and often on the ‘catwalk’, was announced on her official Twitter account.
“The world needs people like Vivienne to make a difference for the better.”
The issues of climate change, pollution and his support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are often featured on T-shirts or banners and carried by his models.
Deadly fire in a casino
At least 19 people have died in a fire at a casino and hotel complex in Cambodia, while more than 50 people with serious injuries have been taken to hospital in Thailand.
Videos posted on social networks showed people jumping from windows trapped by flames inside the Grand Diamond City Casino and Hotel in the border town of Poipet.
“The fire was very big and it was inside the casino, so it was difficult for our water cannon to reach it,” a firefighter said in an online video.
There were reportedly hundreds of people in the hotel and casino complex, while the cause of the fire was not yet known.
Far-right and religious groups lead Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu has been sworn in as Israel’s prime minister and will lead a cabinet of right-wing politicians, including from Religious Zionist and Jewish Power parties.
They promised to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank area and implement a number of policies that had previously been criticized, both at home and abroad.
Netanyahu, 73, is currently in court on corruption charges he denies.
Addressing parliament, he said “ending the Arab-Israeli conflict” was his top priority, as well as countering Iran’s nuclear program and building Israel’s military capability.
Ban on carrying firearms until the president is sworn in
Brazil’s Supreme Court bans registered gun owners from carrying firearms in the federal district until President-elect Luiz Incio Lula da Silva’s inauguration is completed.
The decision comes as police say they are conducting a nationwide crackdown as they investigate an alleged coup attempt by supporters of defeated presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro.
Police said at least two people were arrested.
Tensions remain high right now in Brazil, following the fiercest election in a generation, in which left-wing Lula defeated incumbent right-wing Jair Bolsonaro.
Watch the video: Vila Belmiro Stadium, site of Pelé’s funeral ceremony
