World

Friend of Russell Brand accuser tells court she said alleged rape 'really, really hurt'

A friend of the youngest woman accusing Russell Brand of rape told Southwark Crown Court that the complainant had described the alleged attack as very painful, saying Brand had 'forcibly put it in my bum'. The same week, the court heard cross-examination of the accuser, who said that after the alleged rape Brand directed her to 'clear up the mess you've made' and that when she later confronted him by text, he replied 'I'm sorry'. Brand, 51, denies three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women between 1999 and 2009.

20 Oct·3 min·10 sources

Troubles legacy bill passes Commons by 330 votes to 178

Legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has cleared the House of Commons, with MPs voting 330 to 178 in favour after two days of debate over hundreds of amendments. The bill, which would replace the previous government's contentious 2023 Legacy Act, will now face scrutiny in the House of Lords that is expected to continue into next year.

US and Ukraine hold crisis talks, Australian outlets report

Australian news outlets on Tuesday published headlines reporting crisis talks between the United States and Ukraine, but as of publication their articles carried no further information about the discussions.

20 Oct·1 min·3 sources

Cornell student says president doubted her gang-rape allegation ahead of no-confidence vote

Former Cornell University student Jane Doe has told faculty that President Michael Kotlikoff made her feel "unsupported and disbelieved" over her gang-rape allegation, days before a rare no-confidence vote on his leadership. Cornell denies her account, saying his reported question about the delay in reporting was directed at bystanders who did not use the anonymous tip line, not at her.

20 Oct·3 min·3 sources

Trump rallies full house in Kansas as tight Senate race pushes state toward 'purple'

President Donald Trump brought his daily midterm rally tour to a full 6,500-seat arena in Park City, Kansas, on Monday night, urging supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot in a Senate race that one poll shows the Democrat narrowly leading. Trump told the crowd the reliably red state was "kind of trending towards purple," as he campaigned ahead of the November 3 midterm election.

Australia

Helen Haines critical but stable; man remanded on serious injury charges

Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical but stable condition at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne, a week after she was struck by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta electorate office, losing both legs. Brendan Nugent, 43, has been remanded in custody on charges arising from the incident. His lawyer told the court he has a rare neurological condition. The court ordered an urgent mental health assessment.

20 Oct·3 min·24 sources

NATO Bolsters Black Sea Presence After Wave of Deadly Attacks on Merchant Vessels

NATO is deploying additional military assets to the Black Sea, including maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, and intelligence personnel, the alliance announced on Tuesday, after a surge in suspected Russian drone attacks on cargo vessels that has left at least 23 seafarers dead or missing and pushed the conflict to NATO's borders.

20 Oct·3 min·4 sources

Turkey submits Mecca defence pact to parliament for ratification

The Turkish government has formally submitted the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to parliament for ratification, advancing a trilateral defence pact signed in August. The move, announced on October 20, comes as the three countries activate deterrence measures against Yemen's Houthis and could face parliamentary debate before approval.

Aberfan disaster: Man who made first emergency call recalls 'saddest day' 60 years on

Dave Evans, believed to have made the first emergency call to the fire service during the Aberfan disaster in 1966, has described the morning that claimed 144 lives as 'the saddest day of my life'. Speaking from his home in the village ahead of the 60th anniversary, the 86-year-old recalled the cries of a woman shouting 'the school has gone' and his own desperate efforts to help rescuers amidst the rubble.

Calls to pause GCSE Maths changes in Northern Ireland as staggered exams to end

A planned change to GCSE Maths in Northern Ireland that will scrap most November exam sittings from 2027 has drawn criticism from students and teachers, who say it 'pulls the rug out from under pupils' who rely on a staged assessment structure. The Department of Education defends the decision as providing 'sufficient notice' and says it follows educational considerations.

20 Oct·3 min·2 sources

Scottish school absence spikes after hoax bomb threats as experts warn of copycats

Attendance fell sharply at schools across Scotland on Tuesday, a day after hoax bomb threat emails targeted schools nationwide, with some Glasgow schools reporting half their usual pupils despite Police Scotland confirming the warnings were a hoax. The disruption has prompted warnings of copycat threats, and similar emails have been reported at schools in Northern Ireland, Hungary and Serbia.

20 Oct·3 min·6 sources

UK government expected to approve Jackdaw gas field as Rosebank decision deferred

The UK government is expected to approve the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea in an announcement due on Wednesday, while a decision on the much larger Rosebank oil field off Shetland is expected to be put off, multiple Whitehall sources have told BBC News.

20 Oct·2 min·8 sources

Prince Harry says he 'wants it to work out' with family as King Charles lauds William at state banquet

The Duke of Sussex has said reconciling with his family is "the most important thing" in a new interview released as the King praised his elder son at a state banquet. Prince Harry told GQ he wants his relationship with his father and brother to work out, but acknowledged "scars stick around forever". Hours later, King Charles offered perhaps pointed words for his heir, Prince William, telling the Sultan of Oman that "there can be few happier symbols of success than a living relationship being passed from one generation to the next".

20 Oct·3 min·10 sources

Ukraine intelligence says it killed 108 Russian soldiers in Sumy

Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) has reported that its special forces killed 108 Russian soldiers, captured another 29, and struck more than 1,100 targets during a seven-week operation in Sumy Oblast, though the claims could not be independently verified.

Ukraine reports nearly 46,000 foreign recruits in Russian army since 2022

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on Oct. 20 that 45,959 foreigners from 151 countries and unrecognized territories have signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The Ukrainian agency said recruitment has accelerated sharply this year, with 16,168 individuals identified in the first nine months of 2026, already surpassing the total for all of 2025.

Father of triple murder accused died of 44 stab wounds, court hears

The father of triple murder accused Robert O'Connor died after suffering 44 stab wounds in what the Chief State Pathologist described as a sustained and violent attack at the family home in Co Louth, the Central Criminal Court has heard. His wife Louise was stabbed at least 20 times, the court was told.

Nigeria arrests over 'Tinubu Must Go' T-shirts stoke fears of dissent crackdown

Police in northern Nigeria arrested five men over T-shirts reading "Tinubu Must Go!", the latest flashpoint in a crackdown on political dissent that activists say is squeezing opposition ahead of Nigeria's January 2027 presidential election. Authorities say the arrests were routine and unconnected to political views, but human rights groups describe a pattern of repression.

Russian occupation official charged with war crimes over church persecution in Melitopol

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said on Oct. 20 that it had notified Artem Sharlai, a Russian occupation official previously investigated by the Kyiv Independent, of suspicion of war crimes in absentia over his alleged involvement in persecuting religious communities in occupied Melitopol.

France to deploy military forces for weekend protests after cost-of-living unrest

France will mount a 'massive' security operation involving military forces for expected protests this weekend, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Tuesday, after cost-of-living demonstrations turned violent across the country. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that soldiers from Operation Sentinelle would be deployed to replace police on static guard duties, freeing up officers for crowd control.

EU's Kallas Accuses US of Pushing Ukraine to Surrender on Putin's Terms

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has accused the United States of pressuring Ukraine to capitulate on terms favourable to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to the European Parliament on Tuesday, she said American negotiators have been trying for nearly two years to push Kyiv into surrender, and that only European support had prevented that outcome. Kallas spoke as a new round of peace talks opened in Oslo, Norway, with senior officials from the EU, NATO, and several European nations.

Jane Dodds steps down as Welsh Liberal Democrat leader

Jane Dodds has announced she will stand down as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats after nearly nine years, saying a new generation should lead the effort to increase the party's presence in the Senedd. She will continue as the Member of the Senedd for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd.

20 Oct·2 min·3 sources

Oil tops $110 as IRGC mines set tankers ablaze in Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices climbed Wednesday as the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz escalated, with Brent crude gaining 1.22% to $110.13 a barrel after Iran's Revolutionary Guards said naval mines had set two tankers ablaze, and Yemen's Houthis claimed strikes on Saudi Arabian energy facilities.

20 Oct·3 min·2 sources

Two men charged over alleged plot to assist Iran in RAF Fairford case

Two British nationals have been charged with national security offences over the September incident at RAF Fairford, with one accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service in an investigation that counter-terrorism police say relates to Iran.

20 Oct·3 min·11 sources

Eastern Libya parliament approves 2019 maritime deal with Turkiye, reversing six-year rejection

Libya's eastern-based parliament has voted unanimously to approve the 2019 maritime boundaries deal between Turkiye and Libya, reversing the rejection it issued in 2020 and deepening Ankara's alignment with military commander Khalifa Haftar's camp.

UN warns of catastrophe as Houthi siege on Yemen's Taiz tightens, Shabwa death toll reaches 73

The United Nations has warned that the Houthi siege on Yemen's Taiz is placing civilians at grave risk and blocking humanitarian aid, as the death toll from a Houthi missile attack on a military base in Shabwa governorate rose to 73. The UK announced it would deploy fighter jets to protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi rocket and drone attacks.

Swimmer, 65, killed in rare shark attack off South Africa's east coast

A 65-year-old South African woman, Janine Lochrenberg, has been killed in a shark attack off Orient Beach in KuGompo City (formerly East London), marking the country's first recorded fatal shark attack this year. The retired medical physicist was taking her daily morning swim with a local open water swimming club on Tuesday when she was bitten on her thigh and upper arm.

Nearly half of voters cast Republicans as party of Big Tech tax breaks as data center backlash reaches Senate races

New polling shows Americans increasingly blame Republicans for tax breaks that benefit Big Tech and the data centers powering the AI boom, giving Democrats a fresh line of attack weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms. The POLITICO Poll, conducted by PF Global, found 47% of respondents associate the GOP with giving tax incentives to tech companies, more than double the 21% who said the same of Democrats.

Flávio Bolsonaro's 'corrupto' palm stunt backfires into viral meme before Brazil runoff

Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil's jailed former president, walked into the final televised debate before Sunday's presidential runoff with the word "corrupto" written on his palm. The stunt was meant to brand his leftwing rival as crooked, but it has instead become a sprawling viral meme, with millions of viewers and prominent politicians inking their own palms in mock self-description.

Trump and Vance seize on French unrest as midterm campaign focus

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are using the ongoing civil unrest in France to frame their midterm election messaging, blaming immigration and leftist ideology for the violence. Trump claimed without evidence that the situation is 'about immigration, not schools,' while Vance wrote on X that the scenes represent 'the future congressional Democrats seek for your country.'

20 Oct·1 min

Gellert Global Group sues Trump over 50% Canadian tariffs in fourth major trade challenge

US President Donald Trump is facing a fresh legal challenge to his tariffs on Canada, with the Liberty Justice Center filing a lawsuit on behalf of New Jersey food importer Gellert Global Group. The suit, lodged in the US Court of International Trade, argues that the 50% levy imposed on roughly $20bn of Canadian goods under Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act exceeds executive authority and violates the law.

20 Oct·2 min·8 sources

Australia

WA merger panel's UWA ties draw accusations of bias

The steering committee tasked with evaluating the proposed mega-merger of three Western Australian universities has been accused of having a preordained outcome, with a majority of its members holding ties to the University of Western Australia, the only institution publicly supporting the proposal.

20 Oct·3 min·4 sources

Trump administration says it has revoked more than 300,000 US visas

The Trump administration says it has revoked more than 300,000 visas held by foreign nationals in the United States, a pace it claims is faster than any previous administration, as it defended a crackdown on people who broke the law, committed fraud or posed national security threats.

Alberta separatist movement dealt huge blow as voters reject independence referendum

Alberta voters have decisively rejected a binding referendum on independence, with preliminary results showing more than two-thirds voting against pursuing separation from Canada. The result is a major setback for the province's separatist movement, which had campaigned for over a year, but leaders say the issue will dominate Alberta politics for years to come.

Alberta votes overwhelmingly to stay in Canada, separatist referendum rejected

Albertans have voted decisively to remain part of Canada, with more than two-thirds rejecting a proposal to begin the legal process toward independence. Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the outcome as a victory for national unity, while separatist leaders vowed to continue their campaign.

20 Oct·3 min·3 sources

Trump and Vance to announce $25 million federal fraud whistleblower program

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are set to announce a $25 million program on Tuesday that would pay members of the public up to $30,000 for tips leading to federal fraud convictions or significant enforcement actions, as the administration expands its push to eliminate government fraud.

20 Oct·2 min·3 sources

Zelenskyy meets Trump envoys as US-Ukraine relations hit new low over missile delays

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with senior US envoys in Norway amid deepening tensions with Washington over allegations that the Pentagon is withholding interceptor missiles and deliberately limiting intelligence sharing, as Russia continues deadly strikes across Ukraine.

France marks sixth anniversary of teacher Samuel Paty's murder

France has commemorated the sixth anniversary of the murder of schoolteacher Samuel Paty. Paty was killed on October 16, 2020, near the school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, after false rumours circulated regarding a lesson in which he showed cartoons from Charlie Hebdo. For the first time since his death, journalists from France Télévisions were granted access to film inside the school, where they met students determined to contribute to the fight against terrorism.

20 Oct·1 min

Strike destroys data center in occupied Donetsk

A data center operated by Ugletelecom and Elecom, the main telecom provider in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, was destroyed in an overnight attack on October 20, according to Ukrainian and Russian proxy sources.

Three additional arrests in Waterford arson attack that killed four family members

Gardaí (Irish police) have arrested three more people in connection with a suspected arson attack that killed four members of the English family in Waterford. A man in his 50s and two women in their 30s were taken into custody on Tuesday, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to five.

20 Oct·1 min·3 sources

Rubio acknowledges Patriot missile delay to Ukraine but denies deliberate withholding

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged a possible delay in a shipment of Patriot missile interceptors to Ukraine but denied any deliberate political decision to harm Kyiv, as tensions between the two countries escalate over a U.S.-Russia diesel deal and public criticism between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. Speaking to reporters during a trip to India on Oct. 20, Rubio said the U.S. was managing a limited interceptor stockpile and balancing its own needs against those of other allies.

Senior judge to review trial of the facts framework in Northern Ireland

Sir John Gillen, a former senior judge, has been appointed to review the legal framework on trial of the facts cases in Northern Ireland, following the recent case of Eleanor Donaldson. The review, announced by Stormont’s justice and health ministers, will examine whether a conventional criminal trial should remain possible if an individual becomes fit to plead and whether safeguarding measures, such as sex offender notification requirements, should apply. An interim report is expected by February 2027, with a final report due in spring 2027.

EU warns Russia escalating Black Sea drone attacks to cut off Ukrainian food exports

Russian President Vladimir Putin is intensifying drone attacks near European Union member states bordering the Black Sea in an effort to limit Ukrainian export routes and drive up global food prices, the EU's top foreign affairs official warned on Tuesday. Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, EU High Commissioner Kaja Kallas said two drones were shot down in Romania over the weekend and that there had been six such attacks in 10 days, marking what she called a 'dangerous and unacceptable escalation in the Black Sea.'

Social Security recipients to get 3.6% raise, outpacing job stayers' wage growth

The Social Security Administration will raise benefits by 3.6% in January for about 72 million recipients, a cost-of-living adjustment that exceeds the 3.4% median wage growth seen by workers who stayed in their jobs, according to new data. Independent economist Aaron Terrazas says the gap reflects a shift from cost-of-labor to cost-of-living indexing and could deepen economic inequality.

EU Arctic strategy puts security first, unveils maritime hub and Greenland cable link

The European Union presented its revamped Arctic strategy on Tuesday, placing security at the core of its approach for the first time and announcing plans for a maritime security hub, an expanded icebreaker fleet and a submarine cable linking Greenland directly to Europe. The shift comes as Russia rebuilds its military footprint in the High North and after US President Donald Trump's demands to take control of Greenland.

20 Oct·3 min·7 sources

Brazil counts votes after late polling extension; Lula accuses mayors of blocking buses

Brazilians voted in the final round of the presidential election on Sunday, with the country's Supreme Court extending voting by two hours after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign complained that buses had been taken out of service in Sao Paulo. Vote counting is underway and a final result is expected between 8.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time.

20 Oct·3 min·10 sources

Hackers release 281 gigabytes of AfD emails as Germany announces €225 billion in investment pledges

Hackers have released 281 gigabytes of data from Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, including emails and membership lists, as the government in Berlin announces over €225 billion in investment commitments from global companies at a two-day summit.

California state workers to strike Wednesday, potentially disrupting DMV and other services

Tens of thousands of California state government workers are expected to walk off the job Wednesday in a one-day strike that could disrupt services at the Department of Motor Vehicles, unemployment offices and state parks. Members of SEIU Local 1000, the state's largest public employee union representing about 100,000 workers, are protesting what they call bad-faith bargaining by Governor Gavin Newsom's administration as negotiations for a new contract have stalled.