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7532 articles · page 154 of 157 · The World front page
AVROTROS, the Dutch public broadcaster, has announced it will boycott the Eurovision Song Contest, arguing that the event is 'no longer' neutral as escalating international conflicts are fuelling divisions among participating countries. The decision marks a significant break with the contest's long-standing tradition of non-political cultural exchange.
One Nation MP for Farrer, David Farley, sparked political speculation on Monday after he gatecrashed a Liberal Party meeting and joked about sitting with the Coalition. While Farley insists his comment was a light-hearted quip, Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie did not rule out the possibility of a future defection, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the major parties and the right-wing minor party.
· 3 sourcesA new report by Amnesty International alleges that Indian security forces used excessive force, including pellet guns, tear gas, and electric shock devices, against student protesters during recent demonstrations led by Generation Z activists. The findings, released Monday, have sparked renewed debate about policing tactics and the limits of protest rights in India.
The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has advanced plans for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank, a move widely condemned by Palestinians and the international community for effectively foreclosing the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. Analysts suggest the decision is partly driven by domestic political considerations, as Netanyahu and far-right coalition partners seek to consolidate support ahead of upcoming elections.
Ahmad Hassoun, the Syrian Sunni cleric known as the 'barrel bomb mufti,' has been sentenced to life in prison by a Damascus criminal court on charges of inciting violence and providing religious legitimacy to the government of President Bashar al-Assad, according to state media reports. The verdict, delivered on Monday, concludes a trial that has drawn international attention amid Syria's ongoing civil war.
· 2 sourcesThe Royal Palace in Oslo announced Thursday that King Harald V of Norway’s health has taken a turn for the worse, describing his condition as ‘extremely serious.’ The 89-year-old monarch has been hospitalised since August 17 with a bloodstream bacterial infection, and palace officials say he is now in a critical state.
· 3 sourcesThe Trump administration has reassigned all immigration officers from a key anti-fraud unit within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to focus exclusively on screening South African refugees and investigating alleged 'unlawful' voters, according to internal correspondence obtained by the Guardian. The move sidelines fraud detection work at a time when the agency is already struggling to process asylum claims.
· 3 sourcesAfter thousands of federal workers left the Agriculture Department, farmers across the United States are facing significant delays and denials in obtaining loans, grants, technical assistance, and support for infrastructure and other services, according to reports from rural communities and industry groups.
A mistrial has been declared in the trial of a Cape York Peninsula traditional owner accused of defrauding his community of mining royalties more than a decade ago, after a juror noticed that copies of evidence provided to two fellow jurors contained irregular redacted material that the court had ruled inadmissible. The judge discharged the jury on the spot, citing the risk of prejudice.
· 2 sourcesExclusive CCTV footage obtained by ABC's 7.30 program has revealed shocking scenes of violence against Coles workers, including a customer wielding a hammer and a security guard being thrown into a checkout machine, highlighting the growing crisis of retail worker safety in Australia.
· 2 sourcesThousands of Argentines are migrating to a remote, oil-rich region of northwest Patagonia, hoping to find work in the country's surging energy sector and, in turn, help pull their struggling national economy back from the brink. The influx, described by many as a modern-day rush, underscores the high stakes attached to Argentina's bet that its vast petroleum reserves can fuel a long-overdue turnaround.
· 2 sourcesFour men have been charged in connection with a violent home invasion in Perth’s southern suburb of Warnbro, where two men were stabbed and seriously injured by masked intruders allegedly wielding axes and machetes.
· 7 sourcesTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday unveiled a sweeping new package of sanctions against Iran, escalating the Trump administration's pressure campaign with what it terms an 'economic D-Day.' The move drew an immediate threat from Tehran to retaliate in a 'seismic manner,' raising the stakes in a confrontation that has already disrupted global shipping lanes.
· 4 sourcesCoco Gauff and Arthur Fils won the men's and women's singles titles at the Cincinnati Open on Sunday, with Gauff defeating Jessica Pegula for her second trophy at the tournament and Fils overcoming Frances Tiafoe to claim his first Masters 1000 title. The victories come just a week before the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year.
Singapore has unveiled a sweeping new incentive package offering parents up to S$100,000 (US$78,000) per child in cash and benefits, as the city-state battles a falling birth rate that threatens to make it one of the world's fastest-aging societies.
Beetaloo Energy Australia has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) to plan a 750-kilometre gas pipeline connecting its Northern Territory gas fields to its proposed Beetaloo Digital hub near Darwin, a move that could underpin a major expansion of digital infrastructure in the region.
· 3 sourcesA pair of wild beaver kits have been born in Norfolk for the first time in more than 500 years, marking a historic milestone for the region's rewilding efforts. The newborns are the offspring of two free-living beavers that mysteriously arrived at the Pensthorpe nature reserve near Fakenham in December 2025.
Aleksander Ceferin, the president of European football’s governing body UEFA, has announced he will not challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, but called on Infantino to resign, arguing that staying in office undermines the credibility of world football’s governing body. Ceferin also predicted that another candidate would step forward to contest the role.
Jarome Luai has hit back at claims he is the most overpaid player in NRL history, urging critics to 'walk a day in my shoes' after a rival player added his voice to the debate over the Wests Tigers’ marquee signing. The cashed-up Tiger responded on Sunday night, addressing the growing chorus of doubt about his worth on and off the field.
· 3 sourcesUS President Donald Trump’s weight has been trending upward, prompting concern from some physicians who say he needs to focus on reducing his waistline, according to reports from multiple Australian outlets.
· 3 sourcesThe American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is preparing to spend heavily to support Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan, according to a report from The New York Times. However, Rogers has expressed reservations about accepting the group’s backing, highlighting the complex dynamics of campaign finance and candidate autonomy in a closely watched race.
Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into allegations that formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is being used to preserve cabbages—a practice explicitly banned under national food safety laws. The probe, reported by state media, targets producers and distributors suspected of dipping cabbages in formaldehyde solutions to extend shelf life, reigniting public concern over food safety in China, the world's largest cabbage grower.
· 2 sourcesFormer acting inspector-general of aged care Ian Yates has condemned the Albanese government's aged care reforms as a failure, accusing officials of downplaying wait lists that he says have blown out to 'unprecedented' levels. Yates is the second former insider to publicly criticise the overhaul, raising questions about the effectiveness of the government's signature policy.
· 5 sourcesA new report reveals that earning $130,000 a year is no longer sufficient to avoid housing stress in Western Australia, as the benchmark for affordable rent—defined as no more than 30 per cent of household income—becomes increasingly out of reach for even higher-income earners. The findings underscore a deepening affordability crisis in a state where rental prices have surged over the past two years.
· 2 sourcesA sharp increase in mortgage applications containing AI-generated fake payslips and tax returns has prompted Australian banks to renew their push to replace traditional paper-based income verification with more secure digital alternatives, according to reports from The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times. The trend, described by analysts as 'frighteningly easy' to execute, is laying bare the vulnerabilities of a lending system still reliant on easily forged documents.
· 3 sourcesThe Trump administration on Monday unveiled a sweeping new round of sanctions targeting 60 entities linked to Iran’s oil exports, weapons programs and cyber operations, escalating economic pressure on Tehran despite earlier Iranian dismissals of the move as predictable and ineffective.
· 2 sourcesA climber has filmed a dramatic rockfall on the Goûter Couloir, the perilous section of Mont Blanc known as the 'Death Pass', highlighting the growing dangers faced by mountaineers on the alpine peak as rising temperatures destabilise the mountain's permafrost.
The football used by Diego Maradona to score his infamous 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England has been sold at auction for $3.35 million, highlighting the enduring allure and controversy of one of sports' most talked-about moments.
· 3 sourcesForrestania Resources has announced a significant upgrade to the gold resource at its British Hill project in Western Australia, revealing a deep 29-metre interval grading 3.91 grams per tonne of gold that extends the known mineralisation and lifts the total resource by 175,000 ounces.
· 2 sourcesA Stradbroke Island resident has been praised after an impromptu wildlife rescue was captured on video, showing the local lifting a stranded koala out of harm's way on the Queensland island. The incident, recorded by a bystander, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by native wildlife in urban and semi-urban areas.
· 3 sourcesNikita Tszyu delivered a series of sarcastic answers during a tense press conference on Monday ahead of his world title eliminator against fellow Australian Ben Mahoney, fueling speculation about the pressure both fighters are under ahead of the pivotal super-welterweight bout.
· 3 sourcesNational Australia Bank has warned that house prices will continue to fall for months as the property market adjusts to newly implemented tax changes, with the bank's chief economist stating the correction is roughly one-third complete and will likely take most of a year to fully play out.
Port Adelaide star Zak Butters has officially informed the club he will depart via free agency, ending months of speculation and confirming his desire to return to Victoria. The 25-year-old midfielder’s decision, announced on Monday, has placed Geelong and the Western Bulldogs as the leading contenders for his signature, though competing AFL rules around free agency compensation and a looming wildcard controversy involving Bulldogs player Ed Richards add layers of complexity to the off-season market.
· 7 sourcesAs El Niño exacerbates drought conditions across Indonesia, dried-out peatlands are fueling intense wildfires that threaten ecosystems and public health, with experts warning this year could rank among the worst fire seasons on record.
Wallabies enforcer Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has welcomed the prospect of playing in one of rugby's most hostile environments, saying the team must 'beat fire with fire' as they prepare for their upcoming Test against Argentina in the high-altitude 'mountain cauldron' of Mendoza.
· 3 sourcesAustralia's telecommunications companies have issued new advice on how to contact Triple Zero (000) emergency services, with updated guidance covering text-based options for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired, along with reminders that some older phones may lose connectivity as the 3G network is progressively switched off. Nine's technology expert Trevor Long explained the changes, which aim to improve access and reliability during emergencies.
· 3 sourcesMore than a quarter of Canterbury's NRL squad were kept away from training on Monday after being ruled out with COVID-19, casting uncertainty over Friday's must-win clash against competition leaders Penrith. The Bulldogs, fighting to keep their season alive, now face the prospect of reshuffling a depleted side for one of the most critical matches of the year.
· 3 sourcesPresident Donald Trump has nominated Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a second time, raising questions about whether the administration is reconsidering its earlier calls to downsize or dismantle the agency. The announcement, reported by NPR, revives a nomination that stalled in 2025 and places Hamilton at the center of a heated policy debate over disaster relief.
The Trump administration has unveiled a plan to lease out 28 million hectares of seabed off the coasts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands for deep sea mining, a move that has drawn sharp opposition from local leaders who say they were not properly consulted and fear irreversible damage to pristine marine ecosystems. The Marine Mineral Administration (MMA) released the proposal on Tuesday, framing it as a strategic necessity to secure critical minerals needed for batteries, electronics, and defense technologies, and to counter China’s growing dominance over global supply chains. Critics argue the rush to mine the Pacific floor overlooks environmental safeguards and the rights of island communities.
A grassroots campaign demanding public school reforms, led by India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has drawn the ire of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters and leaders amid accusations of political dissent and attempts to silence the movement. The party, known for its anti-establishment stance and symbol of a cockroach representing bureaucratic inefficiency, has gained traction in several states with its 'Fix the Schools' initiative, which calls for increased funding, teacher accountability, and better infrastructure in government schools.
Women working in Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme are experiencing domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and severe financial hardship due to a visa system that ties their legal right to stay to their employer's approval, according to new research from the University of Melbourne.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached 5,515 confirmed cases, with a case fatality rate of nearly 48 percent, according to reports from Al Jazeera. Pope Leo has issued an urgent call for international action to prevent further loss of life as the crisis deepens amid ongoing challenges of conflict and limited healthcare access.
New South Wales Education Minister Prue Car has called a roundtable to discuss the alleged sexual assault of teenagers and the proliferation of horrific and hateful online content, signaling a renewed push to tackle the intersection of school safety and digital harms.
· 3 sourcesAustralia has recorded its first case of bird flu in a mammal after a fur seal tested positive for the virus in South Australia, marking a significant development in the country's monitoring of the pathogen's spread beyond avian populations.
· 3 sourcesA bipartisan push to expand the surveillance and detention powers of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has been blocked by an unlikely coalition of opponents, including two Liberal Party senators who crossed the floor. One of the senators described the proposed legislation as 'oppressive' and vowed to continue opposing similar measures.
· 3 sourcesFor the first time in history, nine athletes in a single wind-legal 100-metre race all broke the 10-second barrier, a feat that underscores the extraordinary depth of sprinting talent in the modern era and sets a new benchmark for the event.
· 3 sourcesUK Prime Minister Andy Burnham landed in Kyiv on Monday for Ukraine's Independence Day, announcing a groundbreaking deal to share classified Storm Shadow missile technology to help Kyiv produce its own long-range strike weapons. However, the prime minister's first foreign visit was overshadowed by a political storm at home after his government backtracked on a flagship housing pledge to spend the entire Affordable Homes Programme budget on social housing.
· 4 sourcesThe Pentagon has fired the editor, publisher, and a Middle East correspondent of Stars and Stripes, the independent military publication, in a significant escalation of its campaign to curb the newspaper's editorial freedom, according to a report by the New York Times.