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7568 articles · page 16 of 158 · The World front page

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Geopolitics

UN commission rules Russia's energy grid attacks are war crimes

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that Russia's systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly as winter approaches. The report, submitted to the UN General Assembly on October 26, details how since 2022, waves of drone and missile strikes have targeted power plants and heating facilities, leaving millions without heat in temperatures as low as -21°C.

· 3 sources
Geopolitics

EU unveils Frontex overhaul with social media monitoring and deportation powers beyond borders

The European Commission on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping overhaul of EU border agency Frontex, granting it new powers to deport irregular migrants from outside the bloc, monitor social media for migration-related content, and deploy a rapid-response force for border crises. The reform, which must be approved by EU member states and the European Parliament, aims to transform Frontex into what officials described as a fully-fledged 'European return agency' operating far beyond the EU's borders.

· 4 sources
World

French student leaders reject government proposals, call for continued protests

French student union leaders have rejected the government's package of education measures as insufficient and called for further demonstrations on October 31 and November 5, despite President Emmanuel Macron's warning that the coming weekend would be a 'day of risk'. The standoff continues after more than five weeks of school blockades and street protests that have grown into one of the country's largest youth movements in years.

· 7 sources
World

Iranian hardliners call for NPT withdrawal, ramp up pressure on Pezeshkian over negotiations with US

The Front of Islamic Revolution Stability, a hardline Iranian political faction known as the Paydari Front, has asked parliament and the Supreme National Security Council to initiate a withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a move interpreted as a call for Iran to develop nuclear weapons 'as quickly as possible'. The demand comes as the faction intensifies pressure on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s moderate camp, which favours diplomatic talks to end the US-Israeli war that began on February 28, and has filed a motion to impeach Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Geopolitics

Russia expanding glide-bomb production, indicating long-term war intent, report finds

Russia is significantly expanding its production of guided glide bombs, a move that signals Moscow's intention to sustain high-intensity offensive operations in Ukraine for an extended period, according to a report by the Kyiv-based Center for Defense Reforms exclusively shared with the Kyiv Independent. The report reveals that in 2025, a key procurement entity obtained nearly 278,000 servo drives, enough to manufacture 139,000 of the munitions, and identifies a network of companies, most currently unsanctioned, that supply critical components.

World

Von der Leyen's European Commission overhaul moves forward as expert report submitted

Ursula von der Leyen's push for a sweeping overhaul of the European Commission moved closer on Monday as a group of external advisers handed over a report aimed at making the institution more efficient, streamlining its bureaucracy and turning it into a more attractive employer. The report, drawn up by a high-level group led by former Commission Secretary-General Catherine Day, marks the beginning of the second phase of the so-called large-scale review.

Geopolitics

German President Steinmeier begins five-day state visit to China as Berlin recalibrates ties

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in China on Monday for a five-day state visit, the first since 2018, as Berlin attempts to balance economic partnership with a tougher European line on competition, human rights and geopolitical tensions. The trip overlaps with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's separate tour of Japan, Singapore and South Korea, in what analysts describe as a coordinated message to Beijing.

Geopolitics

Zelenskyy says Ukraine has waited nearly a month for Hegseth to sign off on Patriot and NASAMS missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv has been waiting almost a month for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to approve the transfer of Patriot and NASAMS interceptor missiles, calling out the delay publicly as Russian strikes intensify. The Pentagon said the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative 'continues unaltered' but offered no timeline for sign-off.

· 3 sources
World

US military accused of using airstrikes to trap Somalis in path of El Niño floods

The United States military has been accused of using airstrikes to pin residents of southern Somalia on the flood-prone banks of the River Juba as a strengthening El Niño bears down on the region. Residents and a source monitoring the Juba floodplain told The Guardian that the strikes are forcing civilians, including women and children, towards areas at risk of severe flooding. The US Africa Command (Africom) denies targeting civilians or using weather or flooding as a method of warfare.

US Politics

Backbench Labour MPs warn Burnham's reindustrialisation plan will fail unless driven from No 10 North

More than 90 backbench Labour MPs have warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham that his pledge to reindustrialise Britain will fail unless it is driven decisively from his Manchester base, No 10 North, according to a briefing paper seen by The Guardian. The group calls for a new Reindustrialisation Act, clear job creation targets, and for the job of overseeing reindustrialisation to be given to First Secretary Louise Haigh, based at the Manchester outpost.

· 2 sources
US Politics

Judge rules OPM unlawfully gave DOGE access to sensitive federal employee data

The Office of Personnel Management unlawfully granted the Department of Government Efficiency access to sensitive federal personnel data last year, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. Judge Denise Cote of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that OPM violated federal privacy law and bypassed cybersecurity practices when it shared records on millions of past, current and aspiring federal employees with DOGE agents in early 2025.

Geopolitics

Voronezh drone attack kills three, chemical plant reportedly damaged as talks loom

A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Voronezh has killed three people and injured 17, regional governor Alexander Gusev said, as flames engulfed apartment blocks, a business centre and industrial sites and a chemical plant was reportedly damaged. The strike came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for talks with Russia and the United States in November.

· 3 sources
US Politics

GOP divide over Israel tests Vance and the 'America First' coalition

A growing divide within the Republican Party over the future of the US-Israel relationship is posing a challenge to Vice President JD Vance as he navigates a path to a potential 2028 presidential run. President Donald Trump's tight alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has created a schism between the party's pro-Israel establishment and a restive right wing, exposing deep questions about what 'America First' really means for foreign policy.