World

World news from every region: conflicts, elections, diplomacy, disasters and the people at the centre of them.

7548 articles · page 86 of 158 · The World front page

Australia

Ponga Escapes Sin Bin for High Shot, Roosters Furious in Grand Final Defeat

Newcastle Knights captain Kalyn Ponga remained on the field during Sunday's NRL grand final despite a high shoulder shot on Sydney Roosters forward Victor Radley, a decision that left Roosters skipper James Tedesco questioning the consistency of on-field officiating. The incident in the 25th minute at Accor Stadium drew only a penalty and a report, with bunker official Chris Butler declining to instruct referee Adam Gee to send Ponga off. Tedesco was overheard telling Gee, 'If we're consistent with the rules, that's a shoulder to the head. It's been a sin bin all year.' Ponga, who had been sin-binned for a similar act during State of Origin earlier this season, went on to run 95 metres for a try that extended Newcastle's lead to 10-0.

·2 min·3 sources
World

Brazil votes in presidential election as first-round results begin to flow

Polls opened across Brazil on Sunday in a high-stakes presidential election that pits leftwing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro. With about 160 million voters registered, the first round will determine whether either candidate secures more than 50 percent of valid votes or whether the race proceeds to a runoff on October 25.

·2 min·7 sources
Australia

NRL grand final pre-match show restored as tribute to Jai Arrow after chaotic week

The NRL reversed its decision to have no grand final pre-match entertainment, pivoting to a tribute to former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow, whose forced retirement due to motor neurone disease has been one of the season's most emotional stories. The late change caps a chaotic week in which several high-profile acts fell through and league supremo Peter V'landys initially said he would rather spend the budget on junior development.

·2 min·3 sources
Geopolitics

Queen's University Belfast urges staff to review China partnerships after MI5 espionage warning

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has asked staff to review existing and proposed collaborations with a Chinese research institute after MI5 warned it is a front for the Chinese Ministry of State Security. The UK internal security service said the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) has "very strong ties" to Chinese intelligence and that more than 100 UK-linked academics had contributed to projects it funded, in some cases without knowing the institute's role.

·2 min·2 sources
Australia

Victorian private schools received $95m in extra Commonwealth funding as public schools remain underfunded

New federal data reveals that 58 Victorian non-government schools and education authorities received a combined $95 million above the nationally agreed funding benchmark in 2025, while public schools continue to battle for their share. Melbourne Grammar School, where median family income is $375,000 – the highest in the state – received $1.18 million more than its entitlement under the School Resource Standard (SRS).

·2 min·3 sources
World

Government quietly scrapped wildfire preparation plan for England, FOI reveals

The UK government quietly dropped plans to prepare England for wildfires, despite new data showing fire crews lack proper protective equipment, a freedom of information request has revealed. The commitment, part of the third national climate adaptation programme published in July 2023 under Rishi Sunak's Conservative government, was never put into effect. The current government confirmed the programme "was made by the previous government but was not brought into effect."

·2 min
World

Cornell president vows 'serious look' at fraternities after outcry over gang rape allegations

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff has pledged a comprehensive review of the role of fraternities and sororities on campus, acknowledging the institution 'must do better' after a student's gang rape allegations sparked outrage over the school's handling of the case. In an eight-minute video message, Kotlikoff said the university would take a 'serious look' at Greek life and support an independent review called for by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has turned the criminal investigation over to the state attorney general.

·2 min·3 sources
World

25 years on, no one convicted in murder of journalist Martin O'Hagan

The 25th anniversary of the murder of investigative journalist Martin O'Hagan has passed without anyone being convicted for the killing, leaving his family to continue their fight for justice. O'Hagan, 51, was shot dead as he walked home from a pub with his wife in Lurgan, County Armagh, in 2001, in a killing claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by both the Loyalist Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association.

·2 min
US Politics

Trump predicts 'big surprise' for Republicans at Ohio rally, defends data centres amid economic headwinds

US President Donald Trump told a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, that Republicans would outperform expectations in the November midterm elections, even as polls indicate Democrats may gain ground. Trump campaigned for Senator Jon Husted and other Republicans while defending his administration's data centre policy and acknowledging economic pressures from high petrol prices and Canadian tariffs.

·2 min