World News Hub

Labour condemns Reform’s plan for £100bn in cuts as ‘half-baked’ and ‘incredibly reckless’ – as it happened

This blog is now closedThe Electoral Commission has released political donation figures for the second quarter of 2026. They show that Reform UK continues to rake in far more than other parties. Nigel Farage’’s party had declared donations worth £5.3m. Labour got £3.6m, and the Conservatives £2.8m.Most of Reform UK’s money came from Ben Delo, who gave £4m. As Rowena Mason reported earlier this yea...

"Supersized" El Niño's harshest weather ahead includes heat, drought, floods

A new forecast predicts with almost 100% certainty that El Niño will remain in place until early 2027, peaking later this year.

Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio acquitted in sex-tape sharing case

In an unrelated incident, Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings against Asencio over a drink driving conviction.

British trekker found dead in Pakistan after disappearing during mountain descent

Two arrested after attack on defence companies in Munich

In Munich, a man and a woman allegedly attempted to carry out an arson attack outside the premises of two defence companies. The pair were arrested.

Nepal floods: No bodies to cremate, kin burn kusha effigies as hopes fade for missing

Families in Nuwakot and Rasuwa performed symbolic cremations for missing flood victims. Relatives used kusha grass effigies when bodies could not be recovered. Searches for missing kin proved unsuccessful across various locations. Priests guided families through traditional rituals for liberating souls. Over one hundred effigies were cremated in Kathmandu's Pashupati Aryaghat.

Iran's attacks didn't impact military facilities used by U.S., official says

Iran responded to a warning from President Trump with claims of new strikes against U.S. forces in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

A Virginia mountaintop was scarred by coal mining; it now holds a 200,000-square-foot high school

In Buchanan County, Virginia, a state-of-the-art high school has been inaugurated on land reclaimed from mining activities. This new educational facility brings together four outdated schools into a single, modern campus. It provides a variety of academic and vocational options for students while aiming to lessen resource inequalities and promote local youth resilience, showcasing a major commitme...

Nobel laureate Machado: ‘Illegitimate’ Venezuela regime has no right to strike US oil deal

Opposition leader says interim government lacking democratic mandate to negotiate on natural resourcesThe Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, has questioned Donald Trump’s oil deal with Venezuela’s interim government, declaring that the country’s natural resources do not belong to “an illegitimate regime”.In her first public comments since Trump announced what he called “the bigges...

Venezuelan opposition leader questions US oil deal with ‘illegitimate regime’

María Corina Machado says interim government does not have democratic mandate to negotiate natural resourcesThe Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, has questioned Donald Trump’s oil deal with Venezuela’s interim government, declaring that the country’s natural resources do not belong to “an illegitimate regime”.In her first public comments since Trump announced what he called “the ...

Trump hints US would not back UK over Falkland Islands due to lack of Iran war support

The US president says the UK was not "there to help me" in his ongoing war with Iran.

US House passes bill penalizing universities that participate in boycott of Israel

GOP-backed bill mandates institutions receiving federal funds not impose restrictions on programs related to IsraelThe US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican-backed bill that would penalize universities that participate in boycotts of Israel, or attempt to prevent students from taking part in exchange programs with the country.The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act pass...

Houthi fighters clash with Yemeni government forces in country’s southwest

Houthis attempt to cut road linking Taiz to al-Makha in apparent bid to sever government's strategic supply route.

WMO chief says El Nino could be strongest in four decades

El Nino could be the strongest since records began four decades ago, the United Nations' climate agency warned Thursday, with the UN chief warning the world is in the "danger zone of extreme weather". The naturally-occurring weather phenomenon is set to become "very strong" in the months ahead and is near certain to persist through to February, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said. FRA...

Two Palestinian teens killed in West Bank raid by Israeli settlers and army

Two Palestinian teenagers ⁠were killed on ​Wednesday in an attack by Israeli settler militants and ​army troops on their village in the occupied West Bank, local officials and the Palestinian health ministry said, amid an uptick in violence ​by ‌Jewish settlers in the territory. The Israeli military said in a statement its forces had entered al-Mughayyir to ​provide security for police officers an...

US energy firms dominate Venezuela deals worth billions

US energy firms on Wednesday signed a raft of multi-billion-dollar deals with Venezuela, days after the South American country agreed to grant the United States control of a huge chunk of its vast oil reserves. President Donald Trump has talked up the agreement on Venezuela's oil reserves as the "biggest oil deal in world history." But the deals have raised major questions about Venezuela's sovere...

Russians skewer authorities for ordering citizens to register their chicken

A government decree requiring registration of domestic birds, camels and reindeer took effect Tuesday, sending Russians to government service centres with live chickens in tow before authorities clarified that owners did not need to bring their animals anywhere.

France agriculture production sees economic hit from heatwaves

France's recent heatwaves didn't just pose enormous health risks, they also hampered the economy. Authorities have estimated that the recent heat and drought caused production to plummet and expect wealth generated by the agricultural sector to decline by 8% over the course of the year. The knock-on effects will cost the French economy an estimated 0.1 percentage points of growth in 2026.

A pregnant soldier mourns her 21-year-old husband at his funeral in Ukraine

A pregnant woman in Kyiv mourns her 21-year-old husband, who was killed in action

France records its hottest summer since measurements began over a century ago

France has recorded its hottest summer since measurements began over a century ago, according to the environment minister

Oil touches $97 per barrel as diesel prices surge to highest level this year

The price of crude oil rose on Thursday, part of a monthlong run that has helped push the average cost of diesel fuel to its highest level since 2022.

Deadpool-Wolverine derby in the offing as Hugh Jackman targets Norwich City

After Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds's purchase of Wrexham, his Wolverine costar could land Championship rivals Norwich.

This California town with 27 apartments and a local post office is still looking for a buyer. The price has come down to $5.9 million

20 million children a year face online sexual abuse, UNICEF says

More than one in five children aged 12 to 17 were targeted on digital platforms, the UN children’s agency reports.

NBA legend Kevin Garnett’s former Malibu mansion listed for $48 million after massive makeover

NBA legend Kevin Garnett’s former Malibu mansion is now listed for $48 million after a major transformation. Garnett purchased the Pacific Coast Highway property for $6.4 million in 2003 and began building a custom home that remained unfinished. Following a failed $16 million sale and legal disputes, the estate was completed and transformed into a luxury residence.