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8025 articles · page 84 of 168 · The World front page

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Geopolitics

Former German Spy Chief August Hanning Arrested on Treason Charges

Germany's former spy chief, August Hanning, has been arrested on suspicion of treasonous espionage and obtaining state secrets, federal prosecutors announced. The 80-year-old, who led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, is accused of passing sensitive documents to a foreign intelligence service since 2010, while working as a private consultant. A former bureau chief who allegedly supplied Hanning with around 2,000 classified documents has also been arrested.

US Politics

Ken Paxton admits in leaked audio that Iran war and gas prices hurt Republican campaign

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate in a competitive Senate race, has been heard on leaked audio acknowledging that rising fuel prices resulting from Donald Trump's Iran war are dragging his campaign and hurting his party ahead of next month's midterm elections. In a recording obtained by Axios, Paxton told donors that affordability is Republicans' 'biggest problem' and that polling shows Democrats ahead in many races, including his own.

World

South Korea Signals Military Exemption Cuts After Athlete Backlash

South Korea's government has signaled it will scale back military service exemptions for gold-medal-winning athletes after public backlash over controversial comments from national football players at the Asian Games. Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young told parliament on Wednesday the system must be comprehensively reviewed, saying the values attached to fairness and public perceptions of military service have changed.

World

Five Held Over Racial Hatred as Eleven Arrested at London 7 October Protests

Five people remain in custody after being arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred at a protest outside the office of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, as the Metropolitan Police reported 11 arrests at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London on the third anniversary of the 7 October attack. The Board of Deputies later held a vigil in Whitehall and said it would not be threatened or intimidated.

· 2 sources
World

Man Jailed for Life for Killing Ex-Partner Days After Early Release

Robert Sabat, 60, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to murdering his former partner, 42-year-old Dickiesha Nurse. Sabat had been released on licence from HMP Wandsworth on 17 October 2025, the day after he was sentenced to 12 months for possession of a bladed article and harassment, under new government rules that allowed automatic release after serving 40% of the sentence. Days later, he stabbed Ms Nurse at her flat in Tulse Hill, south London.

World

Izmir mayor defects to Erdogan's AKP as Turkish opposition crackdown intensifies

The mayor of Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city and a long-standing opposition stronghold, has defected to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP), in a move that underscores the escalating pressure on Turkey's political opposition. Cemil Tugay's decision was announced by Erdogan himself at a parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, where he welcomed the mayor with a party pin, prompting outrage on the streets of the secular Aegean resort city.

World

Flávio Bolsonaro vows to 're-democratise' Brazil, stoking authoritarian fears

Flávio Bolsonaro, the far-right candidate leading Brazil's presidential race after the first round of voting, has vowed to 're-democratise' the country by rewriting its constitution, prompting accusations that he is using the language of democracy to justify an authoritarian shift. The 45-year-old son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro made the comments at a campaign event in Goiânia on Tuesday, as he prepares for a 25 October runoff against incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Australia

High Court strikes down Mount Pleasant coalmine expansion as Albanese promotes climate action in the Pacific

Australia's High Court has struck down a state regulator's approval of a massive coalmine expansion in the Hunter Valley, a likely historic victory for community members that could have ramifications for other fossil fuel projects. The judgment, delivered on Wednesday, came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led a delegation of Pacific leaders to Tuvalu, where the contrast between his climate advocacy and his support for coal at home was under scrutiny.

· 2 sources
Geopolitics

US Vice President Vance calls for Iran to reduce uranium enrichment, softening earlier demands

United States Vice President JD Vance has called for Iran to make a meaningful reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity as part of an agreement to end the war, a demand experts say may signal a softening of Washington’s earlier insistence that Tehran abandon enrichment altogether. The comments come as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its eighth month, with hardline rhetoric from other senior US officials and growing skepticism from Tehran.

World

Badenoch unveils inheritance tax cut on family homes, prompting criticism of favouring wealthy

Kemi Badenoch has announced the Conservatives would abolish inheritance tax on family homes if elected, also allowing couples to leave an additional £1m tax-free to their families, a move immediately criticised as prioritising the wealthy over ordinary families. The Tory leader told the party conference in Birmingham that the number of families paying inheritance tax – currently less than 5% – would fall by more than half under the plan, which she said would be paid for from £70bn in savings the party has identified.

· 2 sources
World

Rural abuse survivors urge stronger government support as childhood trauma detailed

Domestic abuse survivors from rural communities are calling on governments to provide better support, as one Welsh farmer describes enduring physical and emotional abuse from her father during her childhood. Tracy Lewis, now 48 and a farmer herself, said she felt 'trapped' and 'isolated' growing up on the family farm in mid Wales, recalling being dragged from bed by her hair at age eight to assist with lambing while her mother had visible injuries. The UK government says it is working to address disparities, while the Welsh government says challenges will be considered in its next national strategy.

World

Housing activists at Madrid encampment pin hopes on Spain's snap election after legislation blocked

A sprawling protest encampment in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, housing more than 1,200 tents, has become the focal point of a growing housing rights movement after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman sparked nationwide demonstrations. In response to rightwing parties blocking emergency legislation to tackle the housing crisis, Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a snap general election, prompting activists to vow they will keep up the pressure and plan a general strike in November.