Nepal flood rescue teams find two more survivors as death toll passes 1,331
Emergency responders in Nepal have rescued two more people alive as search operations continue more than a week after catastrophic floods hit the country. A Chinese hydropower worker was pulled from a 225-metre tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 project in Rasuwa district, while a 64-year-old Nepali woman was rescued from a damaged house in neighbouring Nuwakot district. The latest rescues come as teams continue to search flood-hit sites across central Nepal, where many people remain unaccounted for.The worker, identified as Lu Haitao, was freed on Saturday by a joint team of Nepali soldiers and South Korean disaster specialists and later... [Continue Reading]
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Reform UK foreign donation row deepens as Farage says he was not listening
Nigel Farage has said he was "frankly not listening" during a conversation filmed undercover about what appeared to be a plan to channel foreign money to Reform UK. The remarks came as the party continued to face questions over a proposed donation from an American backer that investigators said could have been routed through his UK-based son. The latest comments add a new layer to a row that has already led to the removal of two senior party figures.Farage told the BBC that he was in the middle of canvassing in the Clacton by-election and was not acting as a... [Continue Reading]
Iranian president calls for unity as US intensifies economic pressure
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on officials and the public to remain united as the United States steps up economic pressure on Tehran. He said national cohesion would be enough to neutralise attempts to create discord inside the country. The remarks come as Iran faces renewed sanctions pressure and fresh signs of strain in its domestic economy.According to the supplied report, Washington last month announced what it described as an "Economic D-Day" campaign against Tehran. The measures were presented as the toughest sanctions regime in Washington's history and were aimed at severing economic lifelines that support the Iranian state... [Continue Reading]
New Freedom Flotilla mission sets sail for Gaza amid blockade challenge
A new international flotilla mission organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is under way, with vessels already at sea and more port calls planned in Europe before an attempt to reach Gaza in October. The coalition says the voyage is intended to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza and to draw renewed attention to the humanitarian situation there. It says the mission will continue despite what it describes as previous violence against flotilla volunteers and activists.According to the coalition, two vessels have already departed. Handala II sailed around Scandinavia in June and July, stopping in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, while the... [Continue Reading]
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AfD surges toward breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt election as vote nears
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany is heading into Sunday's Saxony-Anhalt state election with a strong polling lead, raising the prospect of its first state-level governing power in post-war Germany. The party's lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, is at the centre of the campaign and has been the focus of intense attention in the eastern state. If the AfD converts that lead into an outright win, it would mark a major shift in German regional politics.The result would also carry national implications for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union, which is trailing in the polls. The election has become a... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Iran conflict widens as Europe warns on sabotage and Ukraine faces fresh strikes
The US and Iran confrontation deepened on multiple fronts, with Tehran saying it struck US military targets in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, while Washington investigated Iranian claims that a missile hit a wedding in southern Iran and killed at least four people. The conflict is also becoming more politically charged in Washington as sanctions, strikes and election pressure shape the response. đź”— đź”— đź”—In the Middle East, Israel said its troops had taken operational control of the Ali al Taher ridge in southern Lebanon and later said it had consolidated a security zone there, while residents reported continuing... [Continue Reading]
US rejects Israeli calls to remove Palestinians from Gaza as dispute over ceasefire plan deepens
The United States has rejected any plan for the forced displacement, expulsion or mandatory transfer of Palestinians from Gaza, after comments by Israel's defence minister revived debate over the future of the territory's population. In a statement cited on Friday, the US State Department said Washington does not support such a proposal and pointed instead to the language of President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. The exchange has exposed a public disagreement between Washington and Israeli officials over one of the most sensitive issues in the Gaza conflict.The State Department said Point 12 of the plan makes clear that no... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: US Iran tensions close Hormuz as Ukraine, Europe and Falklands rows intensify
The conflict between the United States and Iran has escalated sharply, with the Strait of Hormuz described in the supplied material as effectively closed to shipping, raising the risk of a wider regional shock to energy and trade flows. đź”—South Korea is also reviewing whether to send military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, after domestic reports said preparations were under way for a possible deployment amid US pressure. đź”—Russia continued overnight strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with officials in the Odesa region reporting one death and at least five injuries. đź”— Russian Shahed drones also hit a Coca Cola... [Continue Reading]
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Russian drones strike Coca-Cola plant near Kyiv as Zelensky calls it a signal to America
Russian Shahed drones struck a Coca-Cola plant in Brovary, east of Kyiv, in an attack that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a clear signal to the United States. The strike hit a facility operated by the soft drinks company less than 30 kilometres from the capital, adding to the continuing drone campaign around Kyiv. Officials said the plant was targeted during the latest wave of attacks on the region.Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said no staff were injured in the strike. He said the company was working with the relevant authorities to assess... [Continue Reading]
Argentina escalates Falklands dispute as Milei announces sanctions on oil firms
President Javier Milei has escalated Argentina's dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands by saying he will sign sanctions targeting oil companies operating off the islands. In a televised address on Thursday, he said "winds of change" were beginning to favour Argentina's claim to the territory, which Buenos Aires calls the Malvinas. He linked the move to remarks by Donald Trump that Milei said suggested Washington was reconsidering its historic neutral position.Milei said Trump had recently stated that the United States was re-evaluating its stance on the islands, and he described that as a development Argentina should not... [Continue Reading]
EU foreign ministers remain deadlocked over Israel sanctions and Ukraine support
Ireland's foreign minister said EU ministers had reached an impasse after two days of informal talks in Wicklow, where they failed to agree on trade sanctions over Israel or on military support for Ukraine. The meeting brought together foreign ministers from across the bloc for the Gymnich format, but divisions over both issues prevented a common position. Ireland and Spain pressed for EU-wide curbs on goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, while several other member states resisted the proposal.Helen McEntee said the bloc had not been able to move forward, while EU foreign policy chief... [Continue Reading]
Asia races to expand oil and gas storage after Strait of Hormuz disruption
Asian economies are moving to expand oil and gas storage closer to home after severe disruption to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The shift comes after months of reduced shipping through the waterway, which normally carries much of the Gulf fuel supply on which the region depends. Governments across the region are now looking for ways to reduce exposure to future conflict in the Middle East.The disruption followed the war between the United States and Israel and Iran six months ago, which triggered sharp price rises and emergency conservation measures across Asia. Those measures included price caps, alternate... [Continue Reading]
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US and global energy firms expand Venezuela oil projects as Chris Wright oversees Caracas signing
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright oversaw the signing of a new package of oil and energy agreements in Caracas on Wednesday, adding fresh detail to the wider US-Venezuela arrangement announced days earlier. The deals involve Chevron, Italy's Eni and GE Vernova, and were presented at a ceremony in the Venezuelan capital alongside interim President Delcy Rodriguez. The agreements are separate from the broader oil arrangement that has already drawn scrutiny over the scale of US access to Venezuelan reserves.According to the supplied material, the new contracts are worth tens of billions of dollars and are aimed at expanding production, increasing... [Continue Reading]
Republican Senator Thom Tillis Urges Trump to Fire Defence Secretary Hegseth Amid War With Iran
United States Senator Thom Tillis has publicly called on President Donald Trump to remove Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of creating a leadership void at the Pentagon. The criticism comes as the US military is under strain from the ongoing war with Iran. Tillis made the appeal in a social media post on Wednesday, marking a sharp public break with a senior member of his own party.In his post, Tillis said he had seen "inept management" of service members and argued that Hegseth was "intimidated by competence". He said the defence secretary was retreating into culture-war politics instead of... [Continue Reading]
Alleged Russian spies purportedly speak out in Queensland prison recordings
ABC Investigations says it has found audio published by a Kremlin-controlled television network that appears to capture Kira Korolev and her husband Igor speaking from prison about their arrest, their case and their views on Australian life. The recordings are said to feature a woman speaking in Russian and making remarks about having made a mistake in migrating to another country. The authenticity of the audio has not been independently verified.The Korolevs are being held in separate Queensland prisons while they await trial on espionage-related charges. They are accused of working together to obtain sensitive information linked to national security... [Continue Reading]
US boat strike campaign faces fresh scrutiny as families search for missing fishermen
A new report has renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration's boat strike campaign in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, as families in Saint Lucia say they fear missing fishermen may be among the dead. The report says the United States military has carried out dozens of strikes since 2 September 2025, killing more than 220 people it labels as narcoterrorists. It also says the campaign has unfolded with little public identification of those killed.One case highlighted in the report centres on Joseph "Nathy" William, a fisherman from Saint Lucia who disappeared in February after going out to sea with Ricky... [Continue Reading]
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Israel signals readiness to remove Gaza population as Netanyahu says troops will stay
Israel has said it is prepared to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip if the United States approves a destination for them, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately visited the territory and said Israeli forces would not withdraw. The two statements, made on Wednesday, underline the continuing gap between Israeli military and political positions and the next stage of the US-backed ceasefire framework. They also come as international mediators continue to press for movement on the plan's later phases.Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel was "organised and prepared" to remove Palestinians from Gaza "by every way possible", and that the... [Continue Reading]
Guinea-Bissau backs stronger presidential powers as referendum result is confirmed
Guinea-Bissau's electoral commission has confirmed that voters approved a new constitution that significantly expands presidential powers. Provisional results showed about 70% support, with turnout reported at more than 55%, after voting in the referendum held on Sunday. The changes were put forward by the transitional authorities that took power after last November's disputed election.Under the approved text, the president will be able to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, create or abolish ministries, and dissolve parliament in the event of a grave political crisis. The constitution also reduces the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and... [Continue Reading]
THE GROWTH ILLUSION: HOW GDP TRICKERY MASKED THE DEATH OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
We are fed a daily diet of triumphant economic headlines. The S&P 500 hits record highs, corporate earnings smash forecasts, and central bankers beam at GDP charts pointing up and to the right. Politicians line up to remind us how much "wealthier" we are compared to our parents or grandparents. On paper, they are right. The average worker makes vastly more dollars today than at any point in human history. But step outside the spreadsheet and into the street, and the math fails the reality test. If we are so undeniably prosperous, why does buying a modest home feel like... [Continue Reading]
Poland renews call for German WWII reparations at Westerplatte ceremony
Poland's president has renewed a call for Germany to settle the issue of World War Two reparations during a pre-dawn commemoration at Westerplatte, near Gdansk. Karol Nawrocki made the appeal on Monday as Poland marked 87 years since Nazi Germany invaded the country on 1 September 1939. The ceremony took place at the peninsula on the northern edge of Gdansk, a site closely associated with the opening of the war.Mr Nawrocki said he was appealing to the German chancellor and the German nation to resolve the issue with historical justice in mind and with the future in mind. He said... [Continue Reading]
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Fracked gas from Beetaloo Basin starts flowing into Northern Territory power grid
Fracked gas from the Beetaloo Basin has begun flowing into the Northern Territory power grid, marking a major milestone for the remote onshore gas project south of Darwin. The gas is now being used to help power homes and businesses across the territory. The development comes eight years after the NT moratorium on fracking was lifted.The project was switched on today, according to the supplied material, with government officials, gas company leaders, native title holders and the Northern Land Council expected to attend. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the gas would drive new investment across several sectors, create employment... [Continue Reading]
Maduro posts first photos from US detention after January abduction
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has posted what appear to be his first photographs from a United States detention centre, where he says he has been held since his January abduction. The images were published on Sunday and show him wearing a grey tracksuit and making peace signs with both hands. The posts came two days after a US-Venezuela oil agreement was announced, adding a new political dimension to an already sensitive case.According to the supporting material, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were abducted by US special forces from Caracas and flown to the United States. They are being... [Continue Reading]
Is the Italian Prime Minister the Visionary Leader Europe Needs? An Analysis of Executive Decisiveness, National Security, and the Contrast in European Integration Policies
A Continent in Institutional Deadlock While the rest of Europe remains entangled in a web of bureaucratic deadlock and human rights litigation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly established herself as a leader operating far ahead of her continental peers. For years, European leaders have debated how to handle radicalism and unchecked migration, often waiting for institutional consensus that arrives too late. Meloni, conversely, has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize state security over political correctness, offering a blueprint for a continent facing asymmetric threats. The Contrast in European Legislative Approvals The contrast between Italy’s swift, executive decisiveness and the... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
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The role of community policing in nurturing acceptance
In a highly polarized world and a highly volatile situation, many wars are perturbing the lives of many, forcing governments to take real measures to protect their citizens. Away from the geopolitical analysis and speculation, I would like to highlight one of many important aspects related to war preparation, which is the protocol of living in community shelters, historically comparable to the use of air raid shelters during major conflicts. During the war in Lebanon in the mid-eighties, I published an article about this protocol, and it seems very relevant to these days. 1- This is not your house: A... [Continue Reading]


