World News Hub

Maersk returns another Asia-Europe service through Suez, but wider return remains distant

The latest move is part of a cautious return to the Suez Canal, with four Maersk services switching back since early July, the most recent in mid-August, while nine others continue to sail around Africa.

Builders unearth €9m gold stash sealed in walls of Belgian property

Construction workers found the stash in the walls of a cellar while drilling to lay sewage pipes.

Builders unearth €9m gold loot sealed in walls of Belgian property

Construction workers found the stash in the walls of a cellar while drilling to lay sewage pipes.

🔴 France's constitutional authority strikes down social media ban for under-15s

France's top court blocks Macron's social media ban for under-15s

France's constitutional council struck down a proposed ban on social media for children under 15 on Friday, citing freedom of expression. President Emmanuel Macron tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with re-working ​the draft legislation to take the Constitutional Council's concerns into account, the Elysée said in a statement.

France's constitutional authority strikes down social media ban for under-15s

France's constitutional council struck down a proposed ban on social media for children under 15 on Friday, citing freedom of expression.

Philippines’ Marcos says China oil talks have ‘moved forward’ despite maritime row

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on Friday said talks with China on joint oil and gas exploration had “moved forward” – signalling hopes of a deal before he leaves office in mid-2028, despite ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. Marcos also confirmed for the first time a “provisional understanding” with Beijing over resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal, alt...

Beyond the headlines: Daniel Malikyar on capturing the unseen beauty of Afghanistan

Photographer Daniel Malikyar is using his project titled Afghanistan to counter the way the country is typically seen through headlines of war, conflict and the Taliban's takeover.

Luigi Mangione to appear in court amid reports of plea deal over healthcare CEO’s killing – live

Earlier this week prosecutors and Luigi Mangione’s lawyers filed a joint letter requesting the hearing at 11am on Friday in Manhattan federal courtLuigi Mangione, is reportedly expected to plead guilty at a scheduled hearing on Friday in Manhattan federal court, where he faces charges of stalking resulting in the death of Brian Thompson, the chief of executive of UnitedHealthcare, in 2024.The pote...

‘Unprecedented’ rain kills five in Japan as thousands stranded at airport

Evacuation orders issued for 400,000 after torrential rains hit Chiba prefecture while flooding risks remain high despite rainfall easingAt least five people have died in eastern Japan after “unprecedented” heavy rain that left nearly 7,000 stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport and forced thousands to take refuge in government buildings.The torrential rains hit Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Thu...

Pakistan PM’s ‘red line’ warning to India over water treaty

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused India of illegally suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.

Fuel prices: study says there is no "profiteering by operators"

An ERSE study found that in the first seven months of 2026 domestic prices broadly followed international costs, with no "evidence of profiteering by operators". Fuel prices are set to soar again next week.

Russia stance will be defended in court, pledges World Athletics chief Coe

Russian Athletics has lodged new claim at Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge sanctions, but WA will fight it.

USS George Washington reportedly en route to relieve USS Abraham Lincoln after accounts of mental health crises onboard – US politics live

Lincoln has been on record-breaking deployment for more than 200 days, with reports of service members attempting to jump overboard and chronic food shortagesSign up for the Breaking News US emailThe USS George Washington is en route to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to reports. This comes after accounts about a mental health crisis onboard the Lincoln, including att...

Putin’s recruiters scramble to avoid second mass mobilisation as Ukraine losses mount

Russia is losing 30,000 casualties a month, and the country’s regions are under pressure to feed the ‘meat-grinder’. Experts say it may not be enoughIn kitchens and Telegram chats across Russia, the same question is being asked with growing frequency: will Vladimir Putin order another mobilisation?Nearly five years into the war, Russia is scrambling to find enough soldiers to replenish its ranks, ...

US-China AI decoupling ‘manageable’ for trade – but tech curbs a ‘wild card’: Citi

As US-China tech tensions rise ahead of an expected leadership summit next month, analysts argue Washington’s latest restrictions are unlikely to cause a major disruption in China’s AI exports. But they caution that some of the measures – such as limiting access to “open-weight” models – represent a “genuine wild card” that could reshape the global landscape. Hong Kong-based analysts at Citi Resea...

Russia jails man over spying for Poland one day after Warsaw foils assassination plot

Georgy Pirogov was sentenced to 23 years in a high-security colony for allegedly passing classified information to Polish intelligence. The verdict was announced the day after Poland said it had detained a Russian national suspected of planning a killing in Warsaw on the Kremlin's orders.

Memorial for second world war vandalized with bubbles and graffiti in Washington

Interior department calls incident ‘utter disgrace’ after area filled with bubbles and paint reading ‘Clean hands Dirty $’A memorial in Washington DC for the second world war was vandalized with bubbly ⁠soap and graffiti on Thursday, prompting vows from the US government to find the perpetrator.The fountain bubbled over with suds ⁠and someone painted “Clean hands Dirty $” ⁠on one ​surface, splatte...

Jeremy Bamber’s legal team challenge ban on his talking to the media

Lawyer says restriction comes at ‘significant moment’ in appeal process for White House Farm murder convictionThe legal team of Jeremy Bamber, who has served 41 years in prison for murdering five members of his family, has challenged Wakefield prison’s decision to ban him from talking about his case to the media and long-term supporters.His lawyers have issued a claim for judicial review against t...

Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity disrupts summer travel

Ash spewing from Sicily's Mount Etna has closed the Italian island’s largest airport for the fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of summer holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year. Catania’s airport will remain closed until early August 15. While Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, often disrupts airport operations, this marks the longest emergency since 2002. 

US missionary kidnapped in Niger released after nine months in captivity

Kevin Rideout, a pilot with the evangelical missionary agency SIM International, was abducted in the capital, Niamey.

Two men charged with attempted murder of Sara Sharif’s father

Steven Sansom and Adam Watson accused of trying to kill Urfan Sharif, who murdered his daughter, in Belmarsh prisonTwo men have been charged with attempted murder after the father of the murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif was attacked in prison.Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, are accused of trying to kill Urfan Sharif at HMP Belmarsh on New Year’s Day last year. Continue reading...

Drone crashes in Romania after flying undetected at 'very low altitude'

The Romanian Ministry of Defence said the drone had crashed in a wooded area and that there were so far no recorded casualties or damage to property or infrastructure.

New details from NTSB explain why a Ryanair passenger was partially sucked out of window

The National Transportation Safety Board has released new details about what may have caused a window to shatter on a Ryanair flight, partially sucking a passenger out of the window. Kris Van Cleave reports.

Saudi Arabia announces start of Red Sea defence alliance: Will it work?

Thirteen countries have become members of the Saudi-led maritime alliance.