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The ACT Legislative Assembly has contracted armed security guards for the first time, responding to an escalation in violent threats against politicians. Speaker Jeremy Hanson announced the measure after a security audit found the territory's parliament needed greater protection, as members have increasingly faced threats of physical and sexual violence, and death threats.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is publicly refusing to entertain the possibility of losing the House majority, despite polling that shows Democrats leading the generic ballot by eight points and President Trump's approval at a record low. Scalise argues that his presence in competitive districts is evidence Republicans are still on offense, even as outside GOP allies pull nearly $1 million in advertising from one such race.
Qatar has proposed a comprehensive energy program for Lebanon, offering to build two gas-fired power plants within three years and supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 20 years through a pipeline crossing Syria, according to a draft program seen by Reuters. The plan, which also includes solar, wind and battery storage components, comes as Lebanon's state utility delivers only a few hours of electricity per day and private diesel generators cover roughly half of demand. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Qatar would finance, run and operate the project, with QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies jointly developing a solar plant as the first stage.
A Stormont inquiry has formally released its report on Tuesday, concluding that websites advertising prostitution in Northern Ireland facilitate human trafficking and should be banned outright. The All-Party Group on Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation called for new criminal offences targeting those who operate the platforms, saying criminal gangs use them to manage multiple profiles and conceal abuse behind the pretence that the women are independent.
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has announced she and her husband, recently retired French tennis star Gael Monfils, are ending their marriage, describing the emotional toll of Russia's war in Ukraine as a factor in her personal struggles.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, where American refueling planes and fighter jets are deployed, two sources with knowledge of the visit told Axios. The unannounced meeting came eight days before Israel's parliamentary election and as Washington and Jerusalem discuss a possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran.
Russell Brand is on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London accused of seven sexual offences against six women. On Monday, the third complainant told the court that he grabbed her breasts and dragged her into a bar toilet in 2004, where he orally raped her. Brand denies all charges.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told US senators that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the American military are deliberately blocking delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles that NATO has already paid for, the Washington Examiner reports.
Collingwood AFLW captain Ruby Schleicher has announced she is leaving the club to return to Western Australia, a considerable blow to a women's program that is enduring a disastrous 1-9 season.
Bend police now say an adult and a student who were in the classroom at Silver Rail Elementary School during last week's shooting managed to escape unharmed, bringing the total number of people inside to nine, as the community rallied around the victims through fundraisers, memorials and a church service.
Egypt's parliament has authorised President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia, voting on Monday to approve a mandate that had been postponed a week earlier as Houthi attacks on the kingdom escalate.
Ukrainian forces have carried out what they describe as the world's first aerial evacuation of a wounded soldier by drone, lifting a severely injured infantryman from a mined, drone-infested 'grey zone' to safety in a 74-minute flight. The operation, confirmed by the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade and drone manufacturer Gurzuf Defence on October 19, comes as Kyiv faces mounting pressure from Washington over its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and reports of restricted access to Starlink communications critical to its drone operations.
Fresh polling released this week shows President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 31 percent, a record low for his political career, with his Republican Party trailing Democrats by 12 points on the generic congressional ballot ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The US Department of Homeland Security has granted a temporary reprieve from deportation to more than 100,000 migrants from Ukraine and Sudan, allowing them to remain in the country after their temporary protected status was set to expire on Monday. The department said in a statement that Ukrainians and Sudanese covered by the measures retain protection but did not specify how long the reprieve will last or when a final decision will be made.
The Coalition has confirmed that two politicians and party volunteers were targeted in an incident in Port Melbourne on Saturday, days before independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured in an alleged car attack in Wangaratta. Police say there is no evidence linking the two events.
The United Nations has warned the Security Council that armed groups in Haiti are adapting to intensified security operations, stepping up reprisals against civilians and extending their reach into rural areas, as presidential and legislative elections planned for December have been postponed indefinitely.
Israeli attacks over the weekend killed at least six Palestinians in Gaza, including children, despite a year-old ceasefire agreement, while settler violence in the occupied West Bank has left five dead and over 240 injured in the past two weeks, according to UN reports. Independent human rights experts have called on Israel to protect Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest and to halt what they describe as a rapidly expanding policy of annexation.
The Trump administration has waived sanctions on Russia's trading partners, following a previous waiver on Russian diesel, sparking a fresh wave of Republican criticism as experts warn the moves could pad Moscow's tax revenue.
A coalition of Texas nonprofits claims the state's environmental agency has continued to process data center permits after Governor Greg Abbott ordered a pause on September 21, citing publicly available records that show reviews and approvals for dozens of projects since the directive.
The United States has deployed hundreds of soldiers to Panama for jungle training, with plans to expand operations to Honduras and Colombia, as part of a broader push to reassert the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America, according to a report by The New York Times. The Pentagon has described the move as a sensible restoration of American power, but the U.S. embassy in Panama has called the account categorically false, saying only 120 personnel are attending a two-week course.
President Donald Trump recommended that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky nominate someone else to negotiate a peace deal with Russia, responding to a question about Zelensky saying Trump is on the 'wrong side of history' for Washington's approach to peace talks.
The United States has issued a rare red alert warning to its citizens across 12 Middle Eastern countries, citing the potential for attacks on US interests and rapid military escalation linked to Yemen's Houthis and Iran.
Pope Leo XIV held a telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday evening, the Vatican said, pressing for a humanitarian truce in the besieged city of Oleshky that would allow food, medical aid and the safe evacuation of civilians.
The World Food Programme will stop monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza due to a funding shortfall, the UN agency announced Monday, leaving 1.1 million Palestinians, about half the territory's population, still receiving food or cash each month. The cuts come even as two-thirds of Gaza's population remains acutely food insecure, with the WFP citing reduced contributions from major donors including the United States.
Government amendments to the Troubles legacy bill were passed in the House of Commons on Monday night without a vote, after more than six hours of debate in which Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant rejected claims the changes amount to an amnesty for former soldiers.
Cleanup efforts are underway in eastern Spain after Storm Adam killed at least four people, triggered more than 400 rescues and forced hundreds of thousands to shelter in place. The storm dumped record-breaking rainfall on parts of the Valencia region, reviving memories of the devastating floods that killed over 230 people two years ago.
A 33-year-old man has been charged with three counts of assault by beating after three Jewish women, including one pushing a baby in a pram, were assaulted in Hackney, north-east London. Abdisamad Siad, of Pilgrims Way, Islington, was arrested on Monday after members of the Shomrim Jewish neighbourhood watch group detained him. He remains in custody.
A Kansas man has been charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump after posting comments online about shooting him and claiming to have mapped out nearby rooftops ahead of Trump's scheduled rally in Wichita, according to a federal criminal complaint filed this week.
Finland is seeking to acquire one million anti-personnel mines at a cost of 100 million euros ($112 million), weeks after withdrawing from a United Nations treaty banning their use, as the Nordic nation bolsters its defences against what it calls a long-term threat from neighbouring Russia.
Fresh satellite imagery of the China-Laos joint air facility at Ban Keun, north of Vientiane, shows a substantially larger installation than Beijing has described, prompting some analysts to call it the first overseas military base China has openly acknowledged. China insists the centre, inaugurated on September 29, exists solely to train Lao air force pilots.
Catherine Breed, a 33-year-old American ultra-endurance swimmer, has become the first person to swim the entire 900-mile California coast, finishing at San Diego's Coronado beach on Monday after 111 days in the water. Breed set off on July 1 from the state's northern border, swimming roughly 10 miles per day accompanied by a support vessel, and used the journey to highlight ocean pollution and encourage more women to take to the sea.
Florida has issued an arrest warrant for 95-year-old former Cuban President Raul Castro, charging him with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder over his alleged role in ordering the downing of two unarmed civilian aircraft in 1996, an attack that killed four people associated with the Florida-based humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.
More than three dozen members of US Congress have had their offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder, less than three weeks before the November 3 midterms, as federal agents work to identify who is behind the widespread campaign, according to law enforcement sources and statements from affected lawmakers.
Melbourne-based choreographer Lucy Guerin is stepping away from Lucy Guerin Inc after 25 years at the helm, conferring the artistic directorship on choreographer Melanie Lane. Before departing, Guerin returned to the stage for a solo show, Place Dances, at Buxton Contemporary art gallery - her first public performance in 13 years.
President Donald Trump on Monday said he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next month, though he downplayed Ukraine as the primary topic, instead emphasising nuclear weapons talks. He renewed his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying it is time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. The remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and Kyiv over sanctions relief, degraded Starlink service and stalled peace efforts.
French authorities imposed an overnight curfew in parts of Paris that held calm on Monday night, as the government turned its attention to the online sale of goods looted during the weekend's riots. Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff summoned representatives of six resale platforms including Vinted and eBay to demand removal of listings for allegedly stolen items, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a compensation fund for affected businesses and a law to make rioters pay.
Curfews came into effect across France on Monday night as the government attempted to regain control after a weekend of violent protests, looting and arson that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described as among the country's worst domestic crises in decades. The measures, targeting areas of Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Lille, ban gatherings and restrict movement overnight, with some cities imposing curfews specifically for minors. The unrest has spread to neighbouring countries including Italy and Belgium, and organisers have called for a second wave of demonstrations this Saturday.
Saudi Arabia has postponed its flagship Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, known as 'Davos in the Desert,' which was scheduled to run from October 26 to 29 in Riyadh. Organizers cited security concerns stemming from continued Houthi attacks as the reason for the postponement, which delays the event until next year.
The US Department of Justice has notified the District of Columbia it will open a civil rights probe into the treatment of prisoners and conditions inside D.C. jails and prisons. The investigation, announced Monday, will look for any pattern or practice of constitutional violations.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has denied responsibility for the sudden speed restrictions on Starshield satellite internet service used by Ukraine's military, stating that the system is owned and controlled by the US government. The denial comes as conflicting reports emerge over who ordered the cap, with President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Musk himself all rejecting claims they directed the throttling. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy maintains the restrictions persist, hampering his country's ability to intercept Russian drones and missiles.
Student protesters blockaded the Louvre museum in Paris on Monday, opening a dramatic new front in a wave of unrest that saw French cities rocked by rioting and looting over the weekend. As authorities imposed localized curfews in Paris, Nice, and Lille, President Emmanuel Macron blamed the violence on 'extreme-left thugs and thieves' while admitting to 'failures' in police intelligence. The government has warned it may declare a state of emergency as the protests spread to Italy and Albania.
The US Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the lottery-based admissions policy used at four magnet middle schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, a case that will test when a race-neutral policy can be attacked as intentional racial discrimination. The justices will decide whether the parents' group must show that Asian American students were disproportionately harmed as a group before its claim can proceed.
New Zealand's free trade agreement with India has entered into force, eliminating tariffs on 57 percent of exports including sheep meat, wool, coal and most forestry products. Trade Minister Todd McClay said the deal, concluded in a record nine months of negotiations, is a critical step for export diversification amid global economic uncertainty.
Israeli police have detained 10 people in a rare raid against settlers after a weekend of extreme violence in the occupied West Bank, including an attack on US photojournalist Heidi Levine that she described as an 'attempted lynching'. The police action, announced on Monday, came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu questioned accounts of settler violence, drawing furious international reactions including from the US and European nations.
The Australian Defence Force is participating in war games this week that simulate a regional conflict with China and the use of nuclear-powered submarines to be acquired under the AUKUS pact, according to a report from The Age. The three-day exercise, run by the Washington-based Hudson Institute and the United States Studies Centre, brings together ADF personnel alongside US and Japanese military officers and civilian experts.
President Donald Trump's recent actions on Russia and Ukraine have drawn sharp criticism from security experts and Ukrainian leaders, who say he is embracing Vladimir Putin's positions and harming Kyiv's interests. Trump reversed US sanctions on Russian oil, unilaterally announced an energy ceasefire that Russia ignored, and called for a new president in Ukraine, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to say he feels betrayed.
All 24 expeditioners were evacuated from Macquarie Island in August after the federal environment department warned of the 'psychosocial' risks of witnessing a prolonged bird flu outbreak. But in a letter later obtained by the ABC, the expeditioners described the decision as 'unnecessary' and warned that leaving the island's aging fuel farm unmanned could cause major environmental damage. H5 bird flu has since been detected in an elephant seal and a kelp gull on the island, confirming the virus's presence.
Benny Gantz, a former Israeli army chief and defence minister, has withdrawn from next week's election after opinion polls consistently showed his party failing to reach the minimum threshold for entering parliament. The leader of the Blue and White party announced on Monday he will not run in the October 27 vote, saying he will 'continue to work for unity'.