World news

Europe

Energy bills in Great Britain forecast to jump by £276 a year from January

Cap poised to jump by 16% to equivalent of £1,999 for dual-fuel bill as impact of Iran war puts squeeze on homes

Malaysia: UN agency urges safeguards after refugees returned to Myanmar

The UN refugee agency, UNHCHR, has voiced concern over Malaysia’s decision to return 1,476 people to Myanmar amid an ongoing civil war and a dire humanitarian situation.

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin to inject £150bn into war effort as Germany identifies Kyiv’s ‘weakest point’

German chancellor says he is speaking to other heads of state to try and prepare Ukraine for winter

Europe

Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government

Exclusive: Environment secretary Angela Eagle to make pledge as part of efforts to protect against extreme weather

Malaysia begins Myanmar repatriations despite warnings from UN and rights groups

Kuala Lumpur plans to send a total of 5,000 Myanmar nationals back to the war-torn country despite persecution concerns

Iran-US war live: Oil prices rise after Trump says he has offered Tehran ‘nothing’ in peace talks

Iran's Revolutionary Guards urge American voters to punish Trump at the ballot box in November midterms

World’s seas heated by a record 23 zettajoules last year

The injection of thermal energy, 40 times that used by humanity in total, comes amid an increasing rise in sea levels and continuing acidification

Menopause supplements costing more than £400 a year ‘no better than cheap multivitamin’

Many products aimed at women over 45 lack meaningful quantities of key nutrients, consumer watchdog Which? found

Wednesday briefing: ​Can Andy Burnham live up to the party’s faith in him?

In today’s newsletter: ​At Labour conference members are basking in the glow of the Burnham bounce. But beneath the enthusiasm lies a growing sense that delivery must follow hopeful messaging

Middle East

Lebanon: one in five children goes to bed hungry, says UNICEF

Four in five households in Lebanon struggle to afford basic necessities today, with children increasingly going hungry, missing school and being pushed into work as conflict compounds years of economic crisis.

Approval of biggest coal project in NSW planning commission’s history described as ‘infamous betrayal’

Independent Planning Commission says climate change impacts from Hunter Valley project will be ‘outweighed’ by economic benefits

Europe

Ceuta mass migrant crossing handling 'responsibility of all EU,' Spanish king says

MADRID, Sept 29 - European countries should have shown more solidarity and offered more support to Spain after the mass arrival in Ceuta of tens of thousands of migrants, Spanish King Felipe VI said on Tuesday during a gala dinner to mark a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

"Made him a target for verbal attack and physical threats": Candace Owens sued by Utah man over alleged Charlie Kirk shooting accusations

A Utah man who says he was simply attending Charlie Kirk’s 2026 rally has filed a lawsuit against political commentator Candace Owens, alleging that her

Americas

Costa Rica's Grynspan narrowly ahead in race to be next UN chief, sources say

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 29 - An informal poll by the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as the frontrunner in the contest to become the 10th UN secretary-general, sources close to the process said.

Asia

Double beds, aircon and big-screen TVs: Indonesia suspends officials over luxury prison cells

The discovery of the compound has renewed scrutiny of Indonesia’s prisons, which have long faced allegations that well-connected inmates can obtain preferential treatment through bribery

Romanian lawmakers set to vote on new center-right Cabinet as political crisis drags on

Romanian lawmakers are set to vote on a new center-right Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Muresan

Europe

Eiffel Tower chief steps down after female staff sidelined for Hindu delegation’s visit

Patrick Branco Ruivo will leave his position at the company operating the Paris landmark at end of year

NSW man accused of murdering neighbour – and then murdering his relative two weeks later

Police allege Nicholas Scott killed 79-year-old then ‘set upon’ 59-year-old relative who arrived at Gurranang to sort out estate

Europe

Blockades in France over high school grievances see hundreds detained

Over 400 minors detained in nationwide French high school protests over class sizes, timetables, and teacher shortages amid heatwave conditions.

Trump says he does not know if Iran is going to 'give up yet'

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he does not know if Iran is going to \"give up yet\" but cast the country as doing \"very poorly\" in its war with the US.

Middle East

Girl has multiple surgeries to control infections after strike in Gaza

Witnesses say Raseel's tent was hit by an Israeli helicopter strike. Israel’s military says it has no record of the attack.

As the last US troops exit Iraq, Kurdish fears rise and militias celebrate

The last U.S. troops are leaving Iraq under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington

'Backpack' declared Alaska's Fat Bear Week winner

"Backpack" defeated a bear known only as "910" in the final round of the annual competition.

Reanimated AI Greta Garbo stars again … in a ball-bearing advert

Relatives of Hollywood legend say her doppelganger could now be used for more glamorous roles