World

World news from every region: conflicts, elections, diplomacy, disasters and the people at the centre of them.

7595 articles · page 101 of 159 · The World front page

US Politics

Trump administration finalizes rule weakening fuel efficiency standards

The US Department of Transportation has finalized a plan to significantly weaken fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, replacing Biden-era requirements that would have reached 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031 with a target of 34.9 miles per gallon. The Trump administration touted the move as one of the largest deregulatory actions of his second term, claiming it will lower vehicle costs, while consumer and environmental groups condemned the rollback.

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World

Turkish comedian convicted of insulting President Erdogan but released due to time served

An Istanbul court has convicted stand-up comedian Deniz Göktaş of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and sentenced him to almost 19 months in prison, but ordered his immediate release because he has already served 88 days in custody. The court also imposed a travel ban, preventing Göktaş from leaving Turkey, and the case now moves to the court of appeals for a final decision.

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Geopolitics

Pakistan declares 'open war' on Afghan Taliban after cross-border strikes

Pakistan launched air and missile strikes on three Afghan border provinces on February 21, 2026, targeting camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State of Khorasan Province, triggering a retaliatory attack on Pakistani border posts and a declaration of 'open war' by Pakistan's defense minister. Months of strikes and counter-strikes have followed, straining a 30-year alliance between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban.

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Geopolitics

China Conducts Military Exercise Near Scarborough Shoal After Philippine Resupply Confrontation

China’s military conducted a joint air and naval exercise around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on September 28, two days after the Philippines accused Chinese coast guard vessels of obstructing a resupply mission to troops at Second Thomas Shoal. The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said the drill was a necessary response to actions by “certain countries” that it said had undermined regional peace and stability.

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Geopolitics

South Korea's Lee Asks Trump to Help Restart North Korea Talks During UN Meeting

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung asked US President Donald Trump to help revive stalled talks between the United States and North Korea during an unannounced meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, according to the Blue House, South Korea’s presidential office. The Blue House reported that Trump reaffirmed his willingness to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the 30-minute encounter.

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US Politics

New York governor appoints special prosecutor in Cornell gang-rape case as unsealed documents detail university investigation

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee the criminal investigation into allegations that a Cornell University student was drugged and gang-raped at a fraternity house in 2024. The appointment came Thursday evening as unsealed court documents revealed the university conducted an extensive internal disciplinary inquiry involving more than 50 interviews with 32 witnesses after the student reported the assault. The case, which had drawn intense public criticism after no criminal charges were initially filed, is now being presented to a grand jury.

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World

Foie gras, live dolphins and toasters: China and US cut reciprocal tariffs on $30bn each of goods

The United States and China have released reciprocal lists of goods worth about $30bn each on which they plan to cut tariffs, ranging from consumer electronics and agricultural products to artificial flowers and live dolphins. The announcements mark the latest step away from the intense trade war that dominated much of last year, though major strategic products are excluded and no timeline has yet been given for the reductions.

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US Politics

Experts Warn Trump Administration Could Disrupt Midterm Vote Counting Process

Election experts have warned that Donald Trump’s administration could use the crucial hours and days after polls close in November’s midterm elections to disrupt the results, after suffering a series of court defeats in its attempts to restrict voting access. Former deputy homeland security adviser Caitlin Durkovich said the administration may turn to claims of foreign interference to justify seizing voting equipment or ballots, regardless of legal authority.

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Australia

Sexual assault survivor's medical records exposed in court, prompting reform push

A sexual assault survivor identified as Serene is fighting for systematic change after defence lawyers accessed more than 500 pages of her medical records during court proceedings, including counselling notes she had believed were confidential. The case, reported by Courtney Kruk for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times, is described as reflecting an experience shared by thousands of sexual assault complainants.

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Australia

Property developers exploit Victoria donation loophole with network of companies

Three wealthy property developers, including the son of a $400 million nut king, used a network of jointly owned companies to donate $44,100 to the Victorian Liberal Party in a single week, a move which did not breach the state's donation laws because each payment came from a separate legal entity. The cash windfall has exposed a potential loophole in Victoria's political donation scheme that could allow other wealthy donors to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to political parties and independent candidates using a similar setup.

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World

Philippine President Marcos Grants Pardon to Filipina Drug Convict Mary Jane Veloso

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted an absolute pardon on Friday to Mary Jane Veloso, a 41-year-old domestic worker and mother of two who was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for drug trafficking and later sentenced to death. Veloso, who has always maintained her innocence, was released from prison in the Philippines after the pardon was signed, marking the end of a long-running case that drew international attention.

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Geopolitics

China Reveals AI Dialogue and Iran Talks Among Trump-Xi Summit Outcomes

Beijing has disclosed further details from last week's Trump-Xi summit, revealing agreements to launch an AI dialogue, establish a communication channel for AI incidents, extend the existing trade truce by two months, and hold behind-closed-doors discussions on Iran. The disclosures, released by China on Monday, provide the first concrete outcomes from a meeting that otherwise produced no joint statements and little public breakthrough.

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