World News Hub

WhatsApp ‘drops’, price hikes and queues in scramble for solar eclipse specs

Amid doubling prices and fraying tempers, shoppers hunt for elusive eyewear to prepare for rare eclipse of sun• Europe solar eclipse – latest updatesA secretive WhatsApp group was pinging with notifications throughout Wednesday, letting its members know where in London the latest “drop” would take place.The group’s focus, rather than being for an illicit substance, was for the much coveted eclipse...

Erdogan wants Turkey-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact to draw more countries

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday he hoped more countries would join a defence agreement signed last week between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan aimed at stabilising a region wracked by conflict. The so-called Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Friday as the Middle East grapples with fallout from the US-Iran war, which has dragged in regional players and disrupted shippi...

Patriot Games: Trump’s ‘freedom finale’ to celebrate 250 is … a school sports day

‘Outstanding young Americans’ came together to catch a tennis ball for freedomThe Patriot Games, held this week in Ohio, was intended to be a “national athletic competition celebrating the character, determination, and excellence that define the American spirit”, according to a press release.The competition, which organizers insisted would be nothing like the Hunger Games, was to bring together “o...

David Crowley wins Democratic primary for Wisconsin’s governor in upset over progressive Francesca Hong

Crowley pulls off last-minute victory in tight race after polls had shown Hong as the clear Democratic frontrunnerDavid Crowley, the Milwaukee county executive, won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor after beating the democratic socialist Francesca Hong.Crowley pulled off a last-minute victory after re-entering the campaign and snagging an endorsement from Tony Evers, the outgoing gover...

Mike Lindell refuses to concede in Minnesota primary despite getting far fewer votes

With almost all votes counted in Republican primary for governor, Lisa Demuth is ahead by over 10% of ballotsProgressive Peggy Flanagan sweeps Minnesota Senate primary in race defined by anti-ICE angerUS politics live – latest updatesMike Lindell, the pillow salesman, Trump supporter and election denier, has refused to concede defeat in Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary, despite trailin...

Mike Lindell refuses to concede in Minnesota primary despite getting many less votes than winner

With almost all votes counted in Republican primary for governor, Lisa Demuth is ahead by over 10% of ballotsProgressive Peggy Flanagan sweeps Minnesota Senate primary in race defined by anti-ICE angerUS politics live – latest updatesMike Lindell, the pillow salesman, Trump supporter and election denier, has refused to concede defeat in Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary, despite trailin...

Eurovision changes rules to prevent winners involved in 'armed conflict' from hosting

Eurovision Song Contest organisers have announced changes to the rules, saying winning broadcasters are to be prevented from hosting if involved in armed conflict or a "sensitive geopolitical situation" that could affect the safety of the event.

Libyan Marshal Haftar's intelligence chief killed in Benghazi car bombing

Fawzi al-Mansouri was assassinated outside a mosque in an LNA stronghold, in what analysts said was a major blow to the Haftar family's security credentials and could delay a US-brokered plan to reunify Libya's rival governments. No group has claimed responsibility.

NATO stands with Poland and Romania amid Russian airspace violations

Members of NATO met on Wednesday to discuss recent incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace and concluded that Russia bears "full responsibility" for the incidents.

Man airlifted to hospital after 'shark bite' off Irish coast

A man has been airlifted to hospital after a suspected shark bite off the Irish coast.

Europe prepares for first total solar eclipse in 27 years

Europe is gearing up for its first total solar eclipse in 27 years.

Colombia declares three days of mourning after deadly earthquake

Hundreds are dead as rescuers race to find survivors of the magnitude 7.4 quake.

USS Abraham Lincoln sailors tried to jump overboard amid extended deployment – reports

Crew is in ninth month at sea and has spent 250 days consecutively without making land, record for an aircraft carrierMilitary families and Congress members are sounding the alarm about an intensifying mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, as its 5,000 sailors and marines endure a record-breaking deployment at sea tied to the war with Iran.Two leading specialist military papers, th...

Is Russia’s economy cracking despite the Iran war windfall?

A widening deficit and Ukrainian strikes are testing Russia's economy, even as war in the Middle East lifts oil revenue.

Members of Trump's cabinet remained on decoy plane, after president's quiet exit

The president boarded a different plane in Turkey during a Nato summit to evade an Iranian threat.

Extreme heat: Half of Europe's population exposed to temperatures exceeding 30C

The most intense heat is expected across Western and Southern Europe, with France, Italy and Spain among the hardest-hit countries. But the Balkans and the United Kingdom are also sweltering under the heat.

WHO chief says Trump vaccine push goes against ‘decades of evidence’

The US health secretary has spent years saying the MMR vaccine caused autism despite no medical evidence.

Voting ends in US midwest primaries

Voters in six US states went to the polls to choose their preferred candidates in primaries and special elections ahead of November’s midterms. In Wisconsin, moderate David Crowley narrowly defeated Democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the race for governor. On the Republican side, Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, advanced to a runoff in the Senate primary. Yuka Royer h...

Iran remains defiant as it vows to fight US until demands met

IRGC advisers say Iran has replaced more missiles and drones than it used, and cite falling US munition stocks.

Lebanon becomes first Middle East country to end death penalty

Lebanon’s parliament voted on Tuesday to abolish the death penalty, making the country the first in the Middle East to do so. Lebanon has not carried out an execution since 2004, but death sentences have continued to be handed down, with the latest issued on Monday. Amnesty International says at least 85 people were still on death row as of January this year. Capital punishment in Lebanon has typi...

‘The Office’ star British actor Lucy Davis reveals incurable cancer diagnosis

After keeping it private for 18 months, British actor Lucy Davis has now revealed she has incurable cancer.

20-year-old tourist dies in US after falling from 170-feet waterfall while posing for photos

Colombia: Bogota's search for survivors continues

The search for survivors continues in Colombia, more than 48 hours after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country. More than 200 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 2,000 are reported missing. The new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a state of emergency, as many people remain without clean drinking water or electricity and several major highways are still closed...

Trump says U.S. has "total control" over Strait of Hormuz

President Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz, writing on social media: "I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT."

Hong Kong baby food producer recalls pastas over rice weevil scare

A Hong Kong baby food producer has voluntarily recalled several products from store shelves as a precaution after parents and online users raised concerns that they might contain rice weevils. Baby Basic on Wednesday said the recall covered “instant baby congee – konbu salmon”, with an expiry date of June 22, 2027, and three varieties of its “instant rice-shaped pasta”: salmon and cream, tomato an...