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7604 articles · page 28 of 159 · The World front page

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World

Monster El Nino triggers global havoc from Indonesian fires to Peruvian fishery collapse

The 2026 El Nino, already one of the strongest on record, is causing widespread disasters across the globe, including unprecedented fires in Indonesia, the collapse of the Peruvian anchoveta fishery, drought affecting the Panama Canal, and threats to sugar and rice crops in India and Thailand. The global economic toll could reach nearly $US1 trillion in direct initial losses, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, with the United Nations warning that more than 347 million children face extreme floods or droughts between October and December.

· 3 sources
World

Alberta referendum backs restricting migrant workers' access to healthcare and education

Alberta appears to have voted to restrict temporary residents' access to healthcare, education and social support in a referendum that exposed deepening divisions over immigration in the oil-rich province, even as its economy depends on foreign workers to fill labour shortages. Unofficial results indicated that questions on limiting newcomers' access to public services were likely to succeed, while proposals for separation from Canada and constitutional reform were set to fail.

Australia

Worlds of power, union and crime converge at funeral of Bob Setka, West Gate Bridge survivor

On a cold, drizzly August day in 2023, the funeral of Bob Setka, a survivor of the 1970 West Gate Bridge collapse, brought together an unusual convergence of union leaders, state politics and organised crime. Held at St Leopold's Church in Sunshine, the service drew the then-CFMEU leader John Setka, Victorian minister Jacinta Allan, and a published condolence from underworld figure Mick Gatto, revealing the overlapping circles that have defined John Setka's career.

· 3 sources
US Politics

Trump says Google CEO rejected Atlantic Ocean rename request

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Google CEO Sundar Pichai turned down his request to rename the Atlantic Ocean on Google Maps, a rejection that stands in contrast to the company's compliance with previous geographic name changes. Speaking at a rally in Pendleton, South Carolina, Trump recounted calling Pichai to propose renaming the Atlantic the 'Trump Ocean' or 'American Ocean,' only to be told oceans span too many countries for the company to accommodate the change.

· 3 sources
Geopolitics

Netanyahu pledges to overthrow Iran's government, but analysts question viability

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that toppling Iran's government remains his 'primary objective,' speaking days before national elections as his poll numbers slide. The declaration followed conversations with US President Donald Trump and a visit by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, but no indication emerged that Washington has agreed to join another offensive against Iran, let alone a campaign to bring down its leadership.

US Politics

Feds seek suspect in attempted firebomb attack on Atlanta ICE facility

Federal authorities have released a photo and are searching for a suspect who threw an improvised incendiary device at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Atlanta on Tuesday night, the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed. The device was caught on a fence and did not enter the building, but the attack is the fourth such incident targeting current or proposed immigration facilities this year against a backdrop of political outrage over President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies.

Geopolitics

UK plans emergency powers to protect undersea cables amid Russian interference fears

The UK government has proposed new emergency powers to protect undersea internet cables and energy pipelines from tampering, citing heightened fears of Russian interference and legal gaps in existing regulations. Ministers would gain the authority to order telecom companies to modify or disable services during national security emergencies, alongside harsher criminal penalties of up to 14 years in prison for intentional damage.

· 3 sources
Geopolitics

EU proposes sweeping new Russia sanctions targeting oil sector as Trump considers further relief

The European Union has proposed 117 new sanctions listings targeting Russia's oil refining, processing and export capacity, in a direct response to President Donald Trump's recent deal to import Russian diesel. The draft sanctions, presented to EU ambassadors on Oct. 21, also target banks, LNG facilities and entities helping Moscow evade restrictions. At the same time, Ukrainian and U.S. officials say the Trump administration may be weighing further sanctions relief for Russia, potentially involving the fertilizer industry, raising fears in Kyiv that Washington is shifting toward economic incentives for Moscow without securing a ceasefire.

· 2 sources
Australia

Rivervale residents dismiss politicians' visit as 'five-minute photo op'

Politicians are scrambling to contain growing frustration in Perth's inner-east, where Rivervale residents and business owners accuse the Cook government of ignoring a community living in fear over anti-social behaviour they link to unsupported public housing. A visit to the Kooyong Road shopping strip last week by local MP Cassie Rowe and Police Minister Reece Whitby has been dismissed as a "five-minute photo op", and the dispute has now been taken to Parliament.

· 3 sources
Australia

Backyard supper club Flour & Fire brings personal Italian dining to Fremantle

In the Fremantle suburb of Fremantle, a backyard supper club called Flour & Fire is offering Italian dining experiences built on personal connections and ingredients from the owners' own farm. Chef Valerio Fantinelli and front-of-house host Anna Tamburri run the private dinners from a commercial kitchen and dining area they built themselves, serving seasonal menus at $180–$200 per person. Summer reservations for December, January and February open on October 26.

· 3 sources
US Politics

Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas charged in marijuana racketeering case

Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, a prominent Democrat and critic of President Donald Trump, has been charged in a federal indictment with leading a marijuana racketeering conspiracy that included her two daughters and grandson, the Department of Justice announced Thursday. The charges, unsealed less than two weeks before the midterm elections, have drawn accusations of political motivation from Lucas, while Attorney General Todd Blanche insisted the investigation predated the current administration.

Geopolitics

Settler violence surges during olive harvest in occupied West Bank, Palestinian farmers report

A Palestinian farmer and his teenage son were brutally beaten by masked Israeli settlers during the olive harvest in Beita village, in what locals describe as a sharp escalation of violence across the occupied West Bank. Since September 1, the United Nations has recorded more than 200 attacks on farmers, exceeding the total for the entire harvest season last year. Victims say they have no protection and face a system that shields attackers while the state supports settlement expansion.

Geopolitics

Inside Ukraine's secret drone forensics lab racing to counter Russia's evolving fleet

In a secret Kyiv laboratory, Ukrainian researchers are locked in a technological arms race with Russia, dismantling recovered drones to find vulnerabilities before new modifications turn deadly. The Kyiv Independent received rare access to the Defense Ministry facility, where scientists and engineers analyze wreckage ranging from Iranian-designed Geran drones to North Korean missiles, working against a clock where Russia can adapt its systems in two to three months, faster than the typical four-to-six-month cycle for developing a countermeasure.

Australia

Mother of alleged Alan Jones victim wept on stand, said she 'trusted' broadcaster

The mother of the youngest complainant in the Alan Jones trial broke down in tears after being shown a note written by her son alleging 'something happened' at the broadcaster's property at Fitzroy Falls. She told the court she had 'trusted' Jones with her then teenage son, and was questioned about why she stayed in contact with him after her son disclosed the alleged indecent assault.

· 3 sources
US Politics

Fake polling firm admits fabricating data, prompting questions about midterm fallout

A company that posted fabricated polling data during the 2026 midterm campaign has admitted the numbers were fake, triggering a reckoning among campaign operatives, donors and aggregators about how easily misinformation can sway elections. Wedgewood Polls, which had been included in respected aggregators and cited by outlets including Politico, said on Tuesday it was an 'experimental project' meant to show how an entirely fabricated firm could influence public opinion. But candidates who saw their campaigns damaged by the bogus polls have condemned the experiment, with one Democrat saying the false data dried up donations and devastated volunteers.

· 2 sources
Geopolitics

Global PHP security flaw knocks 32 UK government services offline as Streeting urges public preparedness

A worldwide cybersecurity vulnerability in the PHP programming language has taken dozens of UK government services offline, as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting launched a national campaign urging households to prepare for emergencies ranging from cyber attacks to natural disasters. The government has urged Britons to stockpile three days' worth of food, water and other essentials, warning of threats from hostile states and extreme weather.

· 7 sources
World

Domestic abuse affects nearly one in 10 adults in England and Wales, ONS finds

Almost one in 10 adults in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse in the last year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with charities saying the figures show the government is not on track to meet its pledge to halve violence against women and girls by 2034. The Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 9.6% of people aged 16 and over, equating to about 4.7 million adults, had experienced domestic abuse in the year to March 2026, up from 7.8% the previous year.

· 2 sources
Geopolitics

Central Banks Accelerate Gold Stockpiling and Shift Reserves from U.S. as Geopolitical Tensions Mount

Central banks globally are ramping up gold purchases to levels unseen in recent years, with Goldman Sachs estimating that 79 tonnes were bought in August, more than four times the pre-2022 monthly average of 17 tonnes. The buying spree comes alongside a quiet but significant relocation of gold reserves out of the United States to Europe and domestic storage, as governments signal growing distrust in G7 reserve currencies and seek to protect against geopolitical instability.

Geopolitics

Iran announces offensive military doctrine, threatens to invade neighbours if attacked

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a shift to an 'offensive and asymmetrical' defence doctrine, threatening to invade neighbouring countries and strike bases used by the United States if Washington renews attacks. The warning came as the US ordered nonemergency diplomatic personnel to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks, oil prices climbed above $110 a barrel, and diplomatic efforts to end the eight-month conflict remained stalled.