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7561 articles · page 144 of 158 · The World front page
At least 50 people were injured on Wednesday after several fireworks exploded among a crowd at a festival in northern Spain, according to local officials. The incident occurred during the annual Festival of the Asunción in the town of Arnuero, Cantabria, when a firework display went awry, sending pyrotechnics directly into spectators.
Global oil traffic is increasingly rerouting toward the United States as ongoing hostilities in Iran disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to industry analysts. The shift reflects a significant realignment of crude supply chains amid one of the most serious threats to Persian Gulf transit in decades.
The U.S. State Department has paused processing of all immigrant visa applications, effective immediately, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The move halts the issuance of family-based and employment-based green cards, affecting hundreds of thousands of applicants worldwide, with no timeline given for when processing will resume.
The United States has imposed sanctions on two left-wing activist groups in Europe—Palestine Action in the UK and a separate collective referenced as 'the a/I Collective' in Italy—designating both as terror-linked entities, according to US Treasury announcements and reports on Hacker News. The move has drawn mixed reactions, with a Palestine Action spokesperson urging the UK to end its own ban on the group.
The United States reported a 3.7 percent annual inflation rate for July, unchanged from the previous month but still well above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target, as energy prices surged following the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, according to Al Jazeera.
A federal judge in Boston on Wednesday canceled a nationwide injunction that had barred the U.S. Postal Service from implementing President Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting for the upcoming midterm election, though the judge indicated a replacement block could be issued soon.
Indonesia’s national airline Garuda has announced free flights to destinations beyond Bali as the latest tactic to combat chronic overtourism on the island, which has strained infrastructure, driven up housing costs, and sparked local resentment. The move follows similar initiatives by other carriers and tourism authorities seeking to spread the economic benefits of tourism across the archipelago.
In a juvenile detention centre, some of Australia’s best chefs are volunteering to teach cooking skills to young male offenders, offering hands-on culinary training and a path to employment after release. The program, built on the principle of seeing participants for who they are rather than their past mistakes, seeks to equip inmates with practical skills that can break cycles of reoffending.
Five days ago, the Sydney Roosters looked destined for a deep finals run, but rugby league legend Andrew Johns now warns the team may not even make the top four, let alone reach the grand final, in a startling reversal of opinion that has sent shockwaves through the NRL.
Real estate agents across Australia are turning to private online forums to vent their frustrations and share increasingly desperate tactics, including staging false robberies and coaching each other on how to fend off buyers seeking discounts, as a prolonged housing market downturn tightens its grip on the industry.
Victorian Minister Ben Carroll has stated he respects taxpayer money, but a prominent columnist argues the Labor government needs a spell in opposition to truly understand fiscal responsibility, referencing the legacy of former premier Daniel Andrews and a government culture that prioritises electoral calculus over sound financial management.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, has opened an investigation into Flock Safety's extensive network of automated license plate recognition cameras, demanding the company disclose who has access to the personal data of Americans captured by its systems. In a letter to CEO Garrett Langley, Hawley raised concerns about the scope of the surveillance program and the potential for misuse of sensitive location and travel data.
The New South Wales Minns government has unveiled its long-awaited gambling reform package, but prominent anti-pokies advocates and media commentators have decried the measures as a 'victory for political timidity' and a betrayal of true reform. The package stops well short of a mandatory cashless gaming card, mandatory pre-commitment, or a significant reduction in poker machine numbers, prompting accusations that the government has bowed to industry pressure.
A luxury high-roller suite in Bossley Park, Sydney, is facing increased scrutiny from government agencies, with the imminent ban on VIP programs threatening its viability. The suite, believed to cater to wealthy gamblers, operates in a regulatory environment tightening around inducements and loyalty schemes seen as harmful.
The Horizontal Falls — a spectacular tidal phenomenon in Western Australia's remote Kimberley region — are set to experience a shift in how visitors engage with them, with authorities and traditional owners moving to reframe the experience from a high-speed thrill ride to a more respectful cultural and environmental encounter.
Emma McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, has spoken candidly about the challenges of life after competitive swimming, revealing she ‘was a bit lost’ following her retirement. In a recent interview, she also addressed her quiet split from singer Cody Simpson earlier this year and emphasized the need to maintain personal boundaries.
Dolly Parton has placed a time capsule on her musical legacy, sealing her final song 'My Place in History' — written in 2015 — with instructions that it not be released until 2046, meaning fans must wait another two decades to hear the iconic singer-songwriter's last recorded work.
Wes Streeting, the UK's first openly gay defence secretary, has disclosed that he has received an 'unbelievable volume' of homophobic abuse since taking up the post last month. He described his appointment as both a personal challenge and a signal of cultural change within the Ministry of Defence, which until 2000 banned gay and lesbian personnel from serving.
The Cox Plate, Australia’s premier weight-for-age horse race, faces an uncertain future after its relocation from Moonee Valley, initially intended as a temporary measure, has become permanent, sparking a bitter dispute involving the Victoria Racing Club, local stakeholders, and racing fans.
The Albanese government has announced it will cut Australia’s refugee intake by approximately one-third, lowering the annual humanitarian quota from 20,000 places. The decision, reported by the Financial Review, is part of efforts to reduce overall migration levels, with officials stressing the previous increase was never intended to be permanent.
A Nepali tour operator has said he fears the 15 Australians in his trekking group, including children as young as 11, are dead after flash floods devastated a valley on the Nepal-Tibet border. Sagar Pandey, founder of Himalayan Glacier Trekking, said he had lost all contact with the 47-strong group, which also included trekkers from other countries. The Australian government said it was urgently trying to confirm the welfare of Australians in the area, as the overall death toll from the disaster reached 403, with 341 foreign nationals still unaccounted for.
One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has defended the historical White Australia policy during a controversial podcast appearance, reigniting debate over the party's migration agenda, while other One Nation MPs have in recent days provided conflicting interpretations of the party's current immigration plan.
An independent report has concluded that Australia's current Goods and Services Tax (GST) distribution deal is a $60 billion mistake, according to sources familiar with the review. The findings, which have not been publicly released in full, are already facing resistance from those who benefit from the existing arrangement, with critics accusing opponents of burying the report in 'pure bulldust' to avoid political fallout.
The conviction of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal for the 2013 rape of a junior colleague has not only delivered a landmark verdict after a decade-long legal battle but also reignited fierce debates in India about victim-blaming, media ethics, and the reluctance of liberal institutions to hold one of their own accountable.
A new analysis published by The Diplomat warns that China-linked influence operators are increasingly using artificial intelligence to craft more effective disinformation targeting Japanese audiences. The report, by analyst Cheng-Pu Kao, argues that generative AI has sharply lowered the cost and technical barriers to running influence campaigns, enabling smaller teams to produce large volumes of localized, convincing content and raising new challenges for Japan and its allies.
Despite a surge in investment in artificial intelligence and data centres, economist Greg Jericho argues in The Guardian that the boom is unlikely to deliver significant economic growth or better living standards for Australians, warning instead of noisy, energy-hungry infrastructure with limited broad-based benefits.
The ongoing Iran war is severely disrupting trade connectivity across Eurasia, derailing Central Asian efforts to use Iranian ports and railways as key transit hubs for overland commerce, according to a report from The Diplomat.
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force will deploy three F-2A fighter jets to India for the first time in its history, flying via Okinawa and Thailand to take part in the bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 26, with the US Air Force providing aerial refueling and other support along the route.
A federal judge has for the second time struck down a Texas state law banning drag performances in settings where children may be present, ruling that the measure improperly restricts speech and violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Israeli authorities raided a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) centre in Jerusalem on Wednesday, in what analysts describe as part of a broader strategic campaign to dismantle the agency and advance the annexation of the occupied West Bank, according to a report from Al Jazeera.
Tim Curry, the British actor whose flamboyant portrayal of Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and terrifying turn as Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King's It made him a cult icon, has died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 80, his family confirmed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria’s new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa have discussed the fate of two strategic Russian military bases in Syria — the Khmeimim airbase and the Tartous naval facility — which were previously used to support the ousted Assad regime, Al Jazeera has reported.
In Virginia Beach's critical House race, the ongoing conflict with Iran has emerged as the defining issue, especially for the district's large veteran and active-duty military population, who are closely watching candidates' positions on military engagement and diplomacy. The New York Times reports that the Iran war is 'uniquely salient' to voters in this swing district, which could help determine control of the House.
The Justice Department on Wednesday asked a federal court to restore President Donald Trump's name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, escalating a legal and political battle over the iconic Washington venue just days after administration officials threatened to demolish it if a court blocks planned renovations.
A coalition of Democratic-controlled states filed a new lawsuit on Wednesday challenging the Trump administration's restrictions on mail-in voting, seeking to overcome a recent Supreme Court ruling that had dismissed their earlier challenge on procedural grounds. The suit targets an executive order signed by President Trump in the spring that imposes new requirements on mail-in ballot processing, which critics argue will suppress voter turnout.
Households in Great Britain are unlikely to receive additional government support for energy bills before the October price cap rise, according to Whitehall sources, as the cap is set to increase by 4% from next month. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has so far declined to pledge further assistance beyond the VAT removal on electricity bills announced in his first week, which saves the average household £45 per year.
President Donald Trump has come to regard Senator Lindsey Graham and his wife Darline as integral parts of his own political legacy, according to a New York Times report published Wednesday. The report details how the once-uneasy alliance between Trump and the South Carolina Republican has evolved into a deeply personal and political bond, with Graham now seen as a loyal surrogate rather than an independent figure.
Tim Curry, the British actor whose flamboyant portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* and chilling performance as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 television miniseries *IT* made him a beloved cult figure across generations, has died. He was 75. His death was confirmed by family representatives on Wednesday, but the cause was not immediately disclosed.
British actor Tim Curry, best known for his iconic role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show and his terrifying turn as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King's It, has died at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by his family on Wednesday, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues across the entertainment world.
A man shot and killed eight relatives at a family home in the US state of Montana, according to Al Jazeera reporting. Authorities have not released further details about the suspect, the victims, or a possible motive, and the investigation is ongoing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honors, in recognition of the Starlink satellite internet service that has been vital for maintaining communications and military operations throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Donald Trump closed the Republicans' first-ever midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday by pleading with supporters to 'pretend' they are voting for him in November, while Vice President JD Vance pitched himself as the president’s political heir during a two-day event that showcased the party's reliance on a deeply unpopular leader.
Luis Manuel Aviles, a Nicaraguan immigrant and father of a crew member aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, was released from immigration custody Tuesday, his family announced. Aviles had been detained by Border Patrol agents while his son spent more than nine months deployed in the Middle East.
Dolly Parton, the iconic country music star whose career spanned more than six decades and whose songs became anthems of resilience and joy, has died. In a retrospective published by the BBC, music correspondent Mark Savage examines the legacy of a woman who was far more than a performer — a philanthropist, a businesswoman, and a symbol of unyielding optimism.
The president of the International Criminal Court is calling on Japan to stand firm against mounting US pressure, following Washington’s decision last week to sanction the ICC’s top judge and a senior trial lawyer. The move marks a significant escalation in the long-running dispute between the United States and the Hague-based tribunal.
The death of a student identified as Teja after being slapped by a teacher has reignited India's debate over corporal punishment, raising anew the question of why physical discipline remains routine in schools more than a decade after it was banned under the Right to Education Act.
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Ohio from enforcing a new requirement that people provide documentary proof of citizenship—such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate—when registering to vote at motor vehicle bureaus, halting a law signed by Governor Mike DeWine in March 2025 that amended the state's 'motor voter' process.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Christian Castro, is at the center of an interstate extradition dispute between Texas and Minnesota after being charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime for allegedly shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man in the leg. Castro could be released from a Texas jail as soon as Wednesday if a federal judge does not intervene.