Sat 31 Oct
LiveGet it free
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

World

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

7561 articles · page 145 of 158 · The World front page

AllAustraliaUS PoliticsGeopolitics
Viewgridlistcompact
Australia

Tasmanian council reluctantly approves 288MW AI datacentre as national standards loom

The George Town council in northern Tasmania has voted 6-1 to approve a controversial 288MW AI datacentre proposed by Australian developer Firmus, despite strong community opposition and the council's own stated reluctance. The decision came the day before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secured agreement from states and territories to develop national datacentre standards, highlighting the regulatory vacuum that local councils are currently navigating.

· 2 sources
World

French court recognises flight attendant's breast cancer as occupational disease linked to radiation

A French court has ruled that the breast cancer of former Air France stewardess Sophie Lainault is an occupational disease, directly linked to the elevated cosmic radiation she was exposed to during her years of flying. The decision, handed down on 26 August 2026, marks the first time a French court has formally recognised a causal link between cabin crew work and cancer caused by radiation, potentially setting a precedent for thousands of current and former flight attendants.

· 4 sources
World

On scraps of land and under constant threat: Gaza farmers struggle to rebuild food production

Gaza's farmers are using every last remaining patch of unspoiled earth to grow food amid severe shortages of water, fertiliser, and pesticide, with more than 80% of greenhouses ruined. Venturing into the open to tend to crops can be deadly, according to a report from The Guardian. The struggle to rebuild domestic food production comes as the territory's 2.1 million people are hemmed into an ever smaller slice of land, facing a deepening humanitarian crisis.

Geopolitics

Opinion: Russia lures Latin Americans to fight in Ukraine with false promises, says former diplomat

In a stark opinion piece published Wednesday, former Nicaraguan diplomat Arturo McFields claims Russia is systematically deceiving Latin American migrants with promises of high pay and a path to citizenship, only to force them into front-line combat in Ukraine. 'They were promised the moon and the stars but found only hell in a foreign land,' McFields writes, drawing on his experience as a former ambassador to the Organization of American States. The accusation echoes a growing body of reports from Ukrainian and Western officials about Moscow's recruitment of foreign fighters from developing nations.

Geopolitics

China Advises Citizens to Leave Eswatini, Citing Security Risks Amid Taiwan Ties

China has issued a security advisory urging its citizens to leave Eswatini, the sole African country that still maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, escalating a long-running campaign to isolate Taipei internationally. The notice, published by the Chinese embassy in Mbabane on August 26, cites unspecified 'security risks' but comes amid Beijing's sustained pressure on the remaining 12 states that recognize Taiwan rather than the People's Republic.

World

Hundreds Rescued From Tunnel, Death Toll Rises to 165 in Nepal-Tibet Flood Disaster

Rescuers in Nepal have pulled hundreds of people to safety from a tunnel where they were trapped by the catastrophic flash flood that swept through the Himalayan border region on Wednesday, as the confirmed death toll reached 165 and officials warned the number could rise further. The Nepal Prime Minister's Office released video footage Thursday showing the rescue operation, raising hopes for survivors even as entire villages remain buried under debris and nearly 400 tourists – including dozens of Australians – are still unaccounted for.

· 12 sources
US Politics

Lawsuit Alleges EPA Fast-Tracked Toxic Datacenter Chemicals Despite Health Risks

Two environmental groups have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its approval of two chemicals used in datacenter manufacturing, claiming the fast-track process ignored evidence of severe health risks including 'sudden death,' cancer, and neurological damage. The lawsuit also raises concerns that the compounds may be PFAS 'forever chemicals,' though much of the EPA's documentation remains redacted.

World

Mpox resurges in West Africa as Guinea-Bissau reports first outbreak with children disproportionately affected

A fresh outbreak of mpox in Guinea-Bissau—the country's first—has propelled the virus back into the global spotlight, with early data showing children are bearing the brunt of new infections. The development comes as the World Health Organization tallies nearly 190,000 lab-confirmed cases across 145 countries since 2022, raising urgent questions about containment strategies and vaccine equity.

US Politics

US Halts All Immigrant Visa Applications, Leaving Thousands in Limbo

The Trump administration has paused all US immigrant visa applications worldwide, canceling scheduled interviews at embassies and consulates as part of a broader effort to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants the government says could rely on public benefits. Advocacy groups and legal experts are questioning the move's legality, while a separate initiative to revoke visas from up to 200,000 asylum seekers adds to the uncertainty.

Geopolitics

China Condemns New US Sanctions on Iran as 'Illegal', Warns of Trade Isolation

China has denounced the latest round of US sanctions targeting Iran and its trading partners as 'illegal', warning that Washington's threat to isolate nations doing business with Tehran risks destabilising global energy markets and undermining multilateral trade norms. The new measures, announced by the US Treasury this week, seek to cut off revenue streams to Iran's oil sector, which sells the majority of its crude to China.

US Politics

Canada's Retaliation Tests Limits of Trump's Assertive Foreign Policy

President Donald Trump's strategy of leveraging US economic and military dominance to pressure allies and enemies alike is facing new resistance, as Canada launches retaliatory trade measures and Iran continues to defy American demands, according to a BBC News analysis. The report underscores growing challenges to the administration's transactional approach to foreign policy, even among traditional partners.

Australia

Bowen rules out data centre carve-outs for Queensland, allows conditional non-renewable power

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen has ruled out special treatment for Queensland on data centre power sources, but signalled states may use non-renewable electricity for the facilities if they can demonstrate it would reduce household bills. The clarification comes two days after national cabinet omitted any mention of renewables from a joint statement on data centre regulation, prompting criticism that the government had retreated from an earlier push for a clean-energy mandate.

· 2 sources
US Politics

Reform UK Pledges to Scrap UK GDPR, Promising 'Light-Touch' Data Protections for Small Businesses

Reform UK has announced plans to scrap the UK's General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and replace it with a 'light-touch' alternative modeled on New Zealand's Privacy Act, as part of a broader set of pro-business pledges aimed at supporting the country's 6 million small businesses. The proposal, unveiled Tuesday by leader Nigel Farage and economy chief Robert Jenrick, has drawn sharp criticism from Labour and political opponents, who label it 'unworkable and unserious.'

Australia

Anita Perrottet denies lying under oath to protect husband over alleged illegal donations, Icac told

Anita Perrottet, the sister-in-law of former New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet, has rejected allegations she lied under oath to shield her husband, Charles Perrottet, from scrutiny over allegedly illegal political donations, telling the state’s corruption watchdog that payments totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars were for genuine strategic and marketing advice.

· 2 sources
US Politics

Trump’s bid to raise debt limit faces headwinds as national debt hits $40 trillion

President Trump is quietly pushing to raise the federal debt limit through the end of his presidency, hoping to avoid a politically charged fight before Republicans potentially lose control of Congress in the 2026 midterms. But the plan is encountering stiff resistance from within his own party as the national debt surpasses $40 trillion and bond markets signal growing unease over U.S. fiscal sustainability.

World

Extreme heat linked to 40,000 deaths in England over 37 years, ONS data shows

More than 40,000 excess deaths occurred during the hottest days in England between 1988 and 2025, according to data published Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures, which exclude the current summer, come as the UK Health Security Agency warns that this year is on course to record its highest ever number of heat-related fatalities, with an estimated 2,877 deaths already reported during the May and June heatwaves alone—nearly double the total for all of summer 2025.