Reports of violence against women in Gaza surge, UN agency finds
The UN Population Fund also says there has been a "severe escalation" in the number of early and forced marriages.
Reports of violence against women in Gaza surge, UN agency finds
The UN Population Fund also says there has been a "severe escalation" in the number of early and forced marriages.
Critics of UK government’s economic forecaster are ‘shooting the messenger’, say MPs
Treasury committee rejects calls for fundamental reform of independent watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility
Attacks on the government’s independent economic forecaster from left and right of the political spectrum are akin to “shooting the messenger”, according to an influential group of MPs.
The Treasury committee rejected “siren calls to fundamentally reform” the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and said it should not be blamed when policymakers had to make tough decisions because of tight public finances.
Continue reading...New UK agency to fight ‘information warfare’ from likes of Russia, Burnham tells UN
PM aims to ‘stem poisonous tide’ of disinformation and deepfakes with National Centre for Information Defence
Security chiefs will set up a new national centre to tackle disinformation and deepfakes from hostile states such as Russia, Andy Burnham has announced, saying the government had a duty to “stem the poisonous tide” from damaging British interests.
The National Centre for Information Defence will “detect, attribute and disrupt” information attacks by foreign powers, many of which are enabled by AI, bringing together the intelligence agencies, law enforcement and social media companies.
Continue reading...Six-year-old sets Rubik’s Cube world record twice in three days
Six-year-old Lian Yunzhi broke the women’s Rubik’s Cube world record twice in three days, averaging under 4.5 seconds.
US, Iran hold mediated UNGA talks on ending war, opening Strait of Hormuz
Tehran ties diplomatic progress to lifting shipping blockades and unfreezing assets during New York negotiations.
More than 170,000 respiratory cases recorded in haze-choked Indonesia – BBC
- More than 170,000 respiratory cases recorded in haze-choked Indonesia BBC
- Millions in Indonesia Breathe In Toxic Haze From Months of Wildfires The New York Times
- The women volunteers of Borneo battling the worst wildfires in 11 years Reuters
- Almost 170 patients evacuated from hospital threatened by Indonesia wildfires independent.co.uk
- Indonesia’s wildfire disaster risks a banking-sector hangover IntelliNews
More than 170,000 respiratory cases recorded in haze-choked Indonesia
More than 40,000 of the cases – which range from mild coughs to pneumonia – involve toddlers.
Wheat buyers brace for higher costs as Russia-Ukraine war drags on – Reuters
- Wheat buyers brace for higher costs as Russia-Ukraine war drags on Reuters
- The Other Hormuz: Black Sea Blockade Threatens a Food Supply Shock Bloomberg.com
- Russia’s Arctic Port Murmansk to Use Fertilizer Equipment to Start Shipping Grain gCaptain
- Session on Global Food Security and the Black Sea – UNGA in New York EEAS
- "Grain from Ukraine feeds people all over the world": EU urges Russia to stop attacks on Ukrainian food exports Yahoo
Thinktank linked to Reform UK calls for abolition of state pension
‘Radical’ report likely to influence party’s platform also proposes abolishing inheritance and capital gains taxes
A thinktank linked to Reform UK has called for the abolition of the state pension and £75bn worth of sweeping tax cuts in a “radical” report likely to influence the party’s platform for the next election.
The Centre for a Better Britain’s (CFABB) report – which also calls for weaker rules for UK banks and Trump-style investment accounts offering £1,000 to newborns – will be formally launched at a private event with City executives on Wednesday.
Continue reading...First New Wild Cat Species Identified in Over 100 Years Is An Adorably Tiny ‘Tiger’ – ScienceAlert
- First New Wild Cat Species Identified in Over 100 Years Is An Adorably Tiny 'Tiger' ScienceAlert
- Meet the First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years National Geographic
- Meet the Adorable and Tiny Tilcayo, the First Brand-New Cat Species Identified in More Than a Century Smithsonian Magazine
- A man thought he’d found a stray kitten. It turned out to be a new species of wild cat The Independent
- New Species of Cat Discovered for First Time in a Century The New York Times
‘Sweden is back’: Magdalena Andersson has big plans for Europe – politico.eu
Burnham passes his first Trump test — but papers over the cracks – politico.eu
- Burnham passes his first Trump test — but papers over the cracks politico.eu
- Burnham survived his first Trump meeting. His nice hair may have had something to do with it | Emma Brockes The Guardian
- What Andy Burnham needs from Donald Trump at their New York meet politico.eu
- Trump says he can do business with Burnham but criticises 'terrible' Chagos deal BBC
- Trump and Burnham's first bilateral meeting: What their body language reveals Sky News
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 22, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 22, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- Ukraine Smashes Russia’s Two-Month Push to Encircle Druzhkivka, 237 Troops Killed UNITED24 Media
- Azov Foils Russian Attempt to Encircle Druzhkivka Мілітарний
- Russia Claims It Encircled Dobropillia, but ISW Finds No Evidence mezha.net
- Attempts to expand the “gray zone” and armored vehicles for the autumn — the Defense Forces revealed the Russians’ tactics near Dobropillia Українські Національні Новини (УНН)
North Korean defector told she doesn’t ‘understand oppression’ fires back – nypost.com
Japan’s Leader Calls on U.N. to Drop ‘Enemy State’ Label From Charter – WSJ
- Japan’s Leader Calls on U.N. to Drop ‘Enemy State’ Label From Charter WSJ
- Takaichi Urges UN to Cut Japan’s 1940s-Era ‘Enemy State’ Tag Bloomberg.com
- Japan PM pledges support for international criminal court after Trump calls it ‘out of control’ The Guardian
- In first U.N. speech, Takaichi calls for removal of Japan’s wartime ‘enemy state’ label The Japan Times
- At the U.N., Japan’s Leader Says It’s Time to End ‘Enemy State’ Label The New York Times
South Sudan’s Kiir dissolves government ahead of first national elections – Al Jazeera
- South Sudan’s Kiir dissolves government ahead of first national elections Al Jazeera
- South Sudan's Kiir dissolves government, clears hurdles to delayed election Reuters
- Op-Ed| Coup d’État has taken place in South Sudan Radio Tamazuj
- South Sudan: President dissolves govt as controversy engulfs December poll africanews.com
- South Sudan: Authorities Must Protect Civic Space Ahead of Scheduled National Elections amnestyusa.org
Iran Update, September 22, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War
- Iran Update, September 22, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- Iran Update, September 21, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- The Iran war is spreading in the Middle East and Trump has yet to find a way out DW.com
- Can This Week's U.N. Gathering Cool Rising Tensions Between the U.S. and Iran? Time Magazine
- Analysis: The war in Iran is spreading. New York may be the best chance to stop it WTOP News
Watch: Key moments from Andy Burnham’s first UN speech
In his first speech to the UN as UK prime minister, Burnham highlighted the risks posed by Russian disinformation.
Jamaica hails King’s decision to refer slavery reparations petition to privy council as ‘really big deal’
The move comes after Jamaica’s culture minister Olivia Grange travelled to the UK earlier this month to lodge the historic petition
King Charles has referred a landmark slavery reparations petition from Jamaica to a high-level UK appeals court for legal advice, Jamaica’s culture minister announced in parliament on Tuesday.
Referring to the move as a “really big deal”, Olivia Grange told Jamaica’s MPs the monarch had confirmed that their legal questions have been passed on to the London-based privy council – the final court of appeal for UK overseas territories and some Commonwealth countries.
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