World news summaries — Page 3
Essential facts and source links for recent world stories.
-
Russian drone attacks disrupt internet for about 100,000 Kyiv-area households
Ukraine's digital ministry said Russian drone attacks on Wednesday disrupted internet service for about 100,000 households in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Experts are assessing damage and carrying out repairs; the attacks lasted from morning into early afternoon. -
Europe sees Russia's covert campaign as an immediate threat, not an imminent NATO attack
European ministers say Russia is stepping up sabotage, cyberattacks and drone incursions to weaken support for Ukraine, but do not see an imminent direct attack on NATO. Romania says it has logged more than 100 incursions by drones or drone fragments. -
New Zealand report singles out China as its most persistent, capable state-backed cyber threat
New Zealand's cyber agency says China is the country's most persistent and capable state-backed cyber threat. Its annual report found suspected state-sponsored links in 86 of 369 incidents deemed to be of potential national significance in the year to June 2026. -
Havant Thicket reservoir delayed to 2034 as Ofwat consults on nearly £1bn budget
Havant Thicket reservoir in Hampshire is now expected to be completed in 2034, five years later than planned, after Ofwat paused the project over rising costs. The regulator is consulting for three weeks on a nearly £1bn budget, up from £339m in 2022. -
Israeli military uproots Palestinian groves near Ramallah before harvest
Israeli military bulldozers uprooted Palestinian olive trees in Deir Nizam, near Ramallah, days before the annual harvest. A landowner said all trees on nearly nine acres shared with neighbors were uprooted; the military had not responded to Reuters by Wednesday evening. -
Séjourné warns EU may use trade measures if China fails to rebalance trade
EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné says trade-defence measures are on the table if talks fail to rebalance trade with China; customs data put the bloc’s July deficit above €1 billion a day, while he says thousands of jobs are being lost weekly. -
Milei renews Argentina’s Falklands claim, says UN ignores oil tensions
Argentine President Javier Milei renewed Argentina’s claim to the Falklands, accused the UN of ignoring tensions over oil exploration and called for peaceful talks with Britain. Argentina began sanctions proceedings against more than 60 people and companies linked to the project. -
Thailand’s Cabinet approves medical-only cannabis bill ahead of House review
Thailand’s Cabinet approved a bill limiting cannabis to medical use; it now goes to the House of Representatives. The bill would let existing dispensaries keep current licenses through 2028; nonmedical shops would need to meet new rules to renew. -
Yemen’s government seeks UN backing as forces claim gains against Houthis
Yemen’s Saudi-backed forces say they seized Mount Qarafan and Mount Zalat in Taiz and thwarted a Houthi infiltration attempt at Kahboub, near Bab al-Mandab. At the UN, officials seek support for their anti-Houthi push; fighting has displaced about 132,000 people, the IOM says. -
Orange Order says it is ready to engage ahead of Drumcree parade ruling
Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson says the Order is ready for mediation over Drumcree, after residents sought an international mediator. The Parades Commission must decide whether to allow Sunday's march on Garvaghy Road; a decision may not come until Friday. -
Angus councillors approve demolition of 145 Storm Babet-hit homes
Angus councillors have approved demolishing 145 flood-damaged homes in Brechin’s River Street area, hit when the South Esk burst its defences in October 2023. The council has also proposed raising the flood wall, with the work costed at about £8.2m. -
Baltic states jointly seek extra EU funding for drone-fighting capabilities
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia jointly asked the European Commission for extra EU funding for drone-fighting capabilities, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said. He gave no amount; Finnish daily Iltalehti reported the request was €500 million. -
Israeli panel votes to block Ra'am and Joint List from Oct. 27 ballot
Israel's Central Elections Committee voted Wednesday to bar the Joint List from the Oct. 27 election and disqualify Ra'am, MK Ofer Cassif and Sami Abu Shehadeh. Ra'am may appeal; individual disqualifications require Supreme Court approval, and cases are due next week. -
Envoy says South African rules keep billions in US capital sidelined
US Ambassador L. Brent Bozell III said South Africa’s Black empowerment rules leave billions in US capital sidelined, citing mandatory local equity transfers in mining and telecoms. He said Washington questions Pretoria’s viability as a partner. -
EU decision to remove Usmanov and Fridman from sanctions list draws backlash
The EU agreed Tuesday to lift asset freezes and travel bans on billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman despite Ukraine’s pleas. The move drew criticism, while Russia-related sanctions on about 3,000 other people and organisations were renewed for three years. -
Network Rail prepares North West lines for winter with £41m upgrades
Network Rail has invested £41m in North West rail upgrades to bolster key routes as El Niño raises the chance of wet, stormy conditions this winter. Area director Darren Miller said he was “really confident” in the safeguards, though weather is difficult to predict. -
Carney mocks Trump’s hand gestures as US-Canada trade talks stall
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney mimicked Donald Trump’s hand gestures at a Friday speech in Ottawa, joking that a clean-energy deal was the “functional equivalent of 18 Hoover Dams.” The moment marks a sharper tone as US-Canada trade talks remain stalled.
