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7536 articles · page 151 of 157 · The World front page

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World

UK Government Unveils £10bn Housing Plan with 60% Social Renting Target; Burnham Backtracks on Full Social Housing Pledge

The UK government has outlined plans to spend an initial £10bn on subsidised housing in England, with a target of 60% being social renting — a move that puts it at odds with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s previous insistence that the entire programme should be dedicated to social homes. Meanwhile, Labour mayor Andy Burnham confirmed he will travel to the US next month to join European leaders lobbying Donald Trump for Patriot missiles for Ukraine, and a separate deal between London and Kyiv will give UK authorities access to Ukrainian battlefield data to train AI models for protecting critical infrastructure.

Australia

Alan Jones and fellow 2GB host called SMH reporter 'pigs in the media', Sydney court told

A Sydney court has heard that veteran shock jock Alan Jones and fellow 2GB host Jason Morrison regularly referred to the Sydney Morning Herald and its chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont as “pigs in the media”, as Morrison faced accusations of tailoring his evidence to suit his friend Jones in an ongoing trial over an alleged assault at a lower north shore restaurant.

· 2 sources
Geopolitics

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Signals Likely Attendance at UN General Assembly as Ukraine Urges US Missile Supplies

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated he will likely attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month, a move that could provide a platform for high-level talks with global leaders including Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The development comes as Kyiv pleads for additional US-made Patriot missiles to defend against Russian attacks, with Burnham describing the supply challenge as fixable.

Geopolitics

Trump Administration Ramps Up Economic Pressure on Iran Amid Failed Military and Diplomatic Efforts

The Trump administration has launched a new wave of economic sanctions against Iran, escalating its so-called 'maximum pressure' campaign as the United States finds itself locked in a six-month war that has neither subdued Tehran through airstrikes nor brought it to the negotiating table. The latest sanctions target Iranian oil exports, banking networks, and entities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in what officials describe as an attempt to 'strangle the regime’s revenue streams' and force a change in behavior.

US Politics

Trump Visa Crackdown Plan Threatens Thousands of Asylum Seekers; State Dept Silent on Scope

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a visa crackdown that could affect thousands of people seeking asylum in the United States, though the State Department has declined to comment on how many visas may be revoked. The plan, which has drawn alarm from immigration advocates and legal experts, could reshape the asylum process for applicants already in the country or waiting abroad.

Australia

Tasmanian council approves major AI data centre near Long Reach

The West Tamar Council has approved Firmus Technologies' proposal for a 288-megawatt AI data centre near Long Reach in northern Tasmania, marking one of the largest such developments in the state. The decision, announced on August 25, 2026, paves the way for a facility that could dramatically boost Tasmania's digital infrastructure but has also raised questions about energy consumption and local environmental impact.

· 2 sources
Australia

AFL wildcard finals: Demons' favourite son returns after 372 days; Rabbitohs' Jai Arrow set for final two games

A beloved Melbourne Demons veteran will play his first AFL game in 372 days after being named for this weekend's wildcard finals, as NRL forward Jai Arrow prepares to play his final two games for South Sydney in pursuit of a club milestone. The Demons' selection was one of several surprising calls revealed when all teams and expert tips for the wildcard round were released on Thursday.

· 6 sources
World

Libyan Factions Reach Initial Election Pact, but Deep Divisions Remain

Libya's rival factions have signed an initial agreement outlining a framework for national elections, marking a tentative step toward resolving the country's prolonged political crisis. However, the deal—reached after months of UN-mediated talks—faces serious obstacles, including divided institutions, unresolved legal disputes, and deep mutual mistrust among key players, raising doubts about whether the vote can be held as planned.

Geopolitics

UK to Share Classified Missile Technology with Ukraine to Boost Domestic Production

The United Kingdom has announced it will share classified technical information about the SCALP cruise missile with Ukraine, allowing the country to domestically assemble long-range weapons. The decision, revealed by a UK official in Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day, marks a significant deepening of defense cooperation and a shift toward enabling Ukraine’s self-sufficiency in missile production.

Australia

Smart Glasses Prompt Brisbane to Ban All Photography and Filming at Council Pools

Brisbane City Council has banned all photography and filming—including by smart glasses—at its public pools, effective immediately, as part of a trial of AI-monitoring technology. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the measure, announced on 25 August 2026, is designed to ensure patrons can “feel safe and comfortable,” but the move has sparked debate over privacy and the growing use of surveillance in public spaces.

· 3 sources
Australia

Mackay Secures Historic Test Match: Sugar City Ready for Cricket Showdown

Mackay, the northern Queensland city long known as Australia's sugar capital, is set to host its first ever Test cricket match, a historic milestone that officials say culminates a 'long and complicated battle' to bring the sport's highest level to the region. According to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Brisbane Times, the city is now 'ready for its close-up' after securing the fixture through Cricket Australia's program to expand Test venues beyond traditional capitals.

· 3 sources
Geopolitics

White House vows 'economic D-Day' for Iran, but skepticism runs deep

The Trump administration has announced its most aggressive sanctions push yet against Iran, vowing an 'economic D-Day' designed to cripple the regime's finances. But critics and analysts say the bold promise is likely to fall short against the entrenched realities of global finance, where sanctions evasion, third-party intermediaries, and a lack of international coordination have repeatedly blunted past efforts.

· 3 sources
World

Canada Hits U.S. with Up to 50% Retaliatory Tariffs as Trade War Escalates

Canada announced on Tuesday it will impose retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 percent on a broad range of American goods — including cosmetics, dairy, aluminum foil, dishwashers and fish — in a 'dollar-for-dollar' countermeasure to new U.S. levies imposed by President Donald Trump. The announcement, made by Canada’s finance and industry ministers, comes after trade talks collapsed on Friday, escalating a cross-border trade war that threatens billions in commerce.

· 6 sources
US Politics

Trump and Hannity Urge Voters: ‘Pretend I’m on the Ballot’ in Midterms

President Donald Trump intensified his personal stake in the 2026 midterm elections on Wednesday, telling voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot” and receiving a powerful boost from Fox News host Sean Hannity, who declared that Trump “is on the ballot” in November. The coordinated messaging underscores the White House strategy to frame the midterms as a referendum on Trump’s presidency rather than a typical judgment on the party in power.

· 3 sources
Geopolitics

U.S. Trade Representative Reveals Offer Rejected by Canada in Trade Talks

President Trump's top trade representative, Jamieson Greer, disclosed in an interview the specific terms of an offer presented to Canada that was ultimately rejected, leading to a breakdown in bilateral trade negotiations. The offer, which included tariff reductions and market access provisions, was intended to resolve long-standing disputes, but Canada's refusal has stalled progress and raised questions about the future of the trade relationship.

US Politics

Jeffries Defends Meeting With Kushner, Vows Tough Oversight of Trump

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is defending his recent meeting with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser, after the encounter drew sharp criticism from progressive members of his own party. Jeffries, who is in line to become Speaker of the House should Democrats retake the chamber in November, framed the huddle as part of his broader commitment to rigorous oversight — insisting it does not signal any softening toward the Trump administration.

US Politics

US Postal Service Tightens Mail-In Ballot Rules, Defying Federal Court Ruling

The United States Postal Service announced Friday that it will enforce stricter eligibility requirements for mail-in ballots in compliance with President Trump's March executive order, despite a federal court having struck down the order as unconstitutional. The 95-page report, set for official release on August 26, outlines how USPS will implement the changes for the upcoming November midterm elections, raising concerns about voter disenfranchisement and reigniting legal battles.