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Former Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert dies aged 84 in Illinois home
Former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert has died aged 84 at his Illinois home. The county coroner said he died of natural causes over the weekend; his death brings renewed attention to a political career that ended in prison after he admitted abusing teenage boys he coached before entering politics. Hastert represented Illinois in Congress…
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Indian man accused of leading international child exploitation ring goes on trial in Paris
A 29-year-old Indian man has gone on trial in Paris, accused of leading an online neo-Nazi child exploitation ring that targeted girls in several countries, including Britain and the United States. Prosecutors allege members coerced minors into sexual acts and self-harm; the case highlights how social media and messaging platforms were used to exploit vulnerable…
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Saudi aircraft support Yemen government offensive against Houthi-held territory
Yemen’s government has launched an offensive to retake territory held by the Houthis, with support from Saudi-led coalition air strikes. The campaign matters beyond Yemen because recent Houthi advances near the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab shipping route, alongside disruption to Saudi oil infrastructure, have added pressure to energy supplies during the wider Middle East…
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Ronaldo’s break with Portugal is sad, fitting, and long overdue | Jonathan Wilson
Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career with Portugal has ended following a disagreement with new coach Jorge Jesus over team selection. Ronaldo had agreed not to start against Norway but was not brought on as a substitute despite the competitive nature of the match, leading him to leave the squad. The columnist argues this separation is ultimately…
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Sainsbury’s and Morrisons explored merger talks before discussions ended
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons held exploratory merger talks this year to create one of Britain’s biggest supermarket chains, though the companies are no longer in active discussions. The proposed deal would have created a business with a 23.6% market share, making it the second-largest supermarket group behind Tesco, and would have represented the biggest shake-up for…
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England Covid infections more than double as XFG variant spreads
England is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 infections, with cases more than doubling in the past month and hospital admissions rising five-fold. The outbreak is driven by the XFG variant, also known as ‘Stratus’, which originated in South East Asia and has been spreading across Europe and North America since late 2025. Whilst seasonal increases…
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Marco Rubio says Russia plague could ‘quickly spread’ and is ’cause for focus’ as fears of outbreak mount
The United States is closely monitoring a suspected pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia following the death of a young scientist at a research institute in Siberia. Darya Shipilova, 28, a laboratory assistant at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, died on 2 October after reportedly dropping a vial of live plague bacterium at the facility last week.…
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Glamorous midwives accused of cover-up after two baby deaths rock trendy Colorado birthing center… but whispers among wealthy clients blame sinister ‘witch hunt’
A luxury birthing centre in Fort Collins, Colorado has come under investigation following two infant deaths, leading to the arrest of its owner and chief midwife in September. Althea Hrdlichka and Brecklen Ables face charges of tampering with evidence and attempting to influence a public servant, though specific details remain sealed. The case raises questions…
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Police bodycam captures Cornell fraternity member’s campus ban after assault allegation
Newly released bodycam footage shows Cornell police informing a fraternity member, whose identity is obscured, that he was barred from university grounds after an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in October 2024. Audio released with the footage captures differing accounts from student Jane Doe and Chi Phi member Matthew Ingalls about the encounter, which…
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Russian drone strike sinks Turkish-owned corn ship, killing two crewmen
Russia launched a drone strike on a Turkish-owned civilian cargo vessel carrying corn in the Black Sea on Monday, killing the ship’s captain and leaving another crew member unaccounted for. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the “horrific” attack as part of Russia’s ongoing pattern of targeting civilian vessels rather than seeking peaceful resolution to the conflict.…