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8003 articles · page 79 of 167 · The World front page

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World

Cop31 host Turkey urges wealthy nations to spend more on climate than defence, but hedges on fossil fuel phase-out

The host of the next UN climate summit, Turkey, has called on wealthy countries to spend far more on tackling the climate crisis than the 5% of GDP promised by Nato members for defence, arguing that 'the climate issue is the security issue'. However, the Cop31 president-designate, Murat Kurum, stopped short of committing to repeat the previous agreement to 'transition away from fossil fuels', suggesting the world is 'already in a transition' and that fossil fuel use could be addressed indirectly through other steps. Kurum spoke at a pre-Cop meeting in Nadi, Fiji, this week, where only 13 national leaders attended, most from the Pacific.

· 2 sources
World

Flu cases surge in London, NHS warns of 'ominous' winter pressure

Flu infections are rising in London, with health officials warning of "ominous" signs for hospitals ahead of winter. The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance report shows that, while flu levels in the capital are relatively low, September's figures have exceeded those recorded during the same timeframe over the past four years. Nationally, flu swab positivity increased from 5.0% to 6.5% in the week of September 28 to October 4, and hospital admissions reached 1.97 per 100,000 people. In London, positivity hit 5.6% by the end of September, up from 2.5% at the end of August.

Australia

AIS job cuts raise fears for Australia's 2032 Olympic preparations

The Australian Sports Commission is cutting 40 to 50 roles across its high-performance arm, the Australian Institute of Sport, prompting warnings that Australia's preparations for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could stall. The reduction of about 10 per cent of the commission's almost 550-strong workforce is being made to account for a $15 million funding shortfall, and comes as Cathy Freeman helps promote the Brisbane Games.

· 3 sources
World

Cardiff University faces backlash over following 'banter' account with sexual assault posts

Cardiff University has been criticised for following a student-run Instagram 'banter' account that published anonymous posts about sexual assault and misogyny, including one describing a man continuing to have sex with a woman while she was having a seizure. The university has since unfollowed the account and said it does not tolerate sexual violence, but campaigners say the episode shows institutions must take stronger action against online platforms that harm students.

World

Pillay told of Nobel win in Nuremberg, jokes about sharing prize with Trump

Navi Pillay reacted with disbelief and humour on Friday after learning she had won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize while inside Nuremberg's Palace of Justice, telling well-wishers that extra applause might prompt her to share the prize with Donald Trump. The 85-year-old International Court of Justice judge had been unreachable when the award was announced in Oslo, prompting the Nobel committee chairman to urge her to pick up if she saw a Norwegian number calling.

· 12 sources
World

Historian finds real-world inspiration for Oliver Twist in workhouse cruelty

A historian has uncovered a striking parallel between the brutal treatment of a real pauper in a Victorian workhouse and one of literature's most famous scenes. Theresa Musgrove, researching a biography of Charles Dickens, found 1836 newspaper reports detailing the case of Alice Shepherd, a young woman punished with starvation and solitary confinement for the 'temerity' of asking for a walk, closely echoing the ordeal of Oliver Twist.

Geopolitics

Hezbollah's decision to join Gaza war has permanently weakened its political standing, analysts say

Hezbollah's decision to join the war on Israel on October 8, 2023, in support of Palestinians has fundamentally reshaped Lebanese politics and left the group politically weakened, according to analysts. The move set off a chain of events that culminated in the September 2024 pager attack, the assassination of much of its leadership, and the election of a president and government that have taken a much stronger line against the once-dominant group.

World

Brazilian Supreme Court issues arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro before presidential runoff

Brazil's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro, brother of presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, ordering the former lawmaker to begin a four-year prison sentence for lobbying the United States to interfere in the trial of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. The ruling by Justice Alexandre de Moraes lands weeks before a runoff election that pits Flavio Bolsonaro, the favourite, against incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

World

Spain: Protests and political recriminations follow death of evicted 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal

Thousands of Spaniards protested outside parliament in Madrid this week after the death of Maria del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her home ignited nationwide demonstrations and prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap general election. Her death on Wednesday, after she was hospitalised for severe anxiety and exhaustion, has deepened political divisions with lawmakers trading accusations of exploiting the tragedy.