Top World News
Roman amphitheatre older than Colosseum gets accessible facelift for Winter Paralympics
Verona venue to host Milano-Cortina opening ceremonyCritics see changes to 2,000-year-old arena as blasphemyA 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre is to be made fully accessible to people with disabilities before the Winter Paralympic Games in Milano‑Cortina, as organisers prioritise legacy with 100 days to go.The conversion of the Arena di Verona, which will host the Paralympics opening ceremony, includes the addition of a lift and toilets to a structure older than the Colosseum. Described by the Milano-Cortina 2026 chief executive, Andrea Varnier, as “the symbol of our Paralympic Games”, he admits the conversion has also been considered as an act of “blasphemy” by some traditionalists. Continue reading...
UN Begins Process To Elect Next Secretary-General
The search for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations launched Tuesday, as member states were invited to send nominations to replace Antonio Guterres for the term starting in 2027.
Jair Bolsonaro Behind Bars: The Fall Of Brazil's Polarising Firebrand
Bolsonaro, a former army captain, once electrified supporters with his gloves-off style, while drawing criticism for comments slamming gays, demeaning women and praising Brazil's dictatorship years.
Plastic nurdles found at 84% of UK sites of special scientific interest
Environmental charity Fidra says 168 of 195 SSSIs it surveyed are contaminated with tiny pelletsPlastic nurdles have been found in 84% of important nature sites surveyed in the UK.Nurdles are tiny pellets that the plastics industry uses to make larger products. They were found in 168 of 195 sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), so named because of the rare wildlife they harbour. They are given extra protections in an effort to protect them from pollution. Continue reading...
‘No topic is too difficult’: children’s series on life in communist East Germany wins an Emmy
In Fritzi’s Footsteps tells story of a girl growing up in Leipzig who witnesses the fall of the Berlin WallThe creators of a children’s television series about life in communist East Germany have said they hope it will awaken interest in the region’s history, after it was awarded an International Emmy.Auf Fritzis Spuren (In Fritzi’s Footsteps) tells the story of a 12-year-old girl living in the eastern city of Leipzig and how she experiences life in the east and the events that lead to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Continue reading...
Second teenage boy charged with murder after alleged stabbing behind Sydney school played ‘active role’, police say
Another boy, 15, charged on Monday after 17-year-old boy died from wounds to thigh in Rouse HillFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA second teenage boy arrested in his home over his alleged “active role” in the stabbing murder of a 17-year-old in a suburban park will spend months in custody.The alleged victim died from a knife wound to his thigh after a confrontation at a park behind a school in north-west Sydney on Monday afternoon. Continue reading...
US triples national park fee for non-residents, amid ‘new’ fee for Americans
Interior department, which has defunded conservation organizations, claims fee hike is for conservationThe interior department announced today new “America-first” entrance fees for national parks, commemorative annual passes featuring Donald Trump and “resident-only patriotic fee-free days for 2026” including Trump’s birthday.Starting next year, entrance fees for international visitors will more than triple. Continue reading...
Thousands of Cubans struggle without power and water nearly a month after hurricane
Thousands of Cubans remain without power, water or proper shelter almost a month after Hurricane Melissa pummeled the island’s eastern region as one of the strongest Atlantic storms in history
As Russia pummels Ukraine’s energy systems, Kyiv hopes US gas will fill the gap
Ukraine's gas facilities have suffered severe damage from Russian drone and missile attacks, forcing the country to import more gas
Taiwan announces special budget of $40 billion for arms purchases to bolster defense
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has announced a special $40 billion budget for arms purchases, including to build a Taiwan Dome, an air defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities, as the U.S. pressures the island to increase...
UK budget to target cost of living crisis as Reeves battles to keep Labour MPs on side
Chancellor’s fiscal statement billed as decisive moment for fate of Starmer government as she tries to fill £20bn spending gapRachel Reeves will promise to tackle Britain’s cost of living crisis and deliver fiscal stability in Wednesday’s budget, which is billed as a decisive moment for the fate of Keir Starmer’s beleaguered government.The chancellor will say she is taking the “fair and necessary choices” to shore up the economy as she raises billions of pounds worth of taxes to help offset lower than expected growth forecasts. Continue reading...
Excessive restraint in immigration detention centres ‘deeply concerning’, report finds
Watchdog says force being applied ‘inconsistently, disproportionately, and without adequate justification’Home Office contractors are over-using restraint in immigration detention centres and failing to tackle the toxic culture behind bars, according to the findings of a new watchdog report described as “deeply concerning”.By Force of Habit: How the Use of Force in Immigration Detention Has Lost Sight of Necessity and Dignity was published by the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB), which examines conditions in prisons and immigration detention centres. The findings revealed force being applied inconsistently, disproportionately, and without adequate justification, which it said undermined the dignity and welfare of highly vulnerable individuals. Continue reading...
