Normal view

China warns of ‘consequences’ over Taiwan presence at Pacific Islands Forum

1 September 2026 at 08:34

Beijing-Taipei tensions a feature at meeting in Palau, with Australia and New Zealand saying the forum – not another country – will determine who attends

China ⁠said it had serious concerns ⁠about Taiwan’s presence at ​the annual Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, warning of “consequences” after the democratically ruled island attended the group’s opening ceremony on Monday.

China views Taiwan as its own territory, and China-Taiwan tensions have ⁠featured prominently at the meeting, which is intended to demonstrate regional unity.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters

China warns of ‘consequences’ over Taiwan presence at Pacific Islands Forum

1 September 2026 at 08:34

Beijing-Taipei tensions a feature at meeting in Palau, with Australia and New Zealand saying the forum – not another country – will determine who attends

China ⁠said it had serious concerns ⁠about Taiwan’s presence at ​the annual Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, warning of “consequences” after the democratically ruled island attended the group’s opening ceremony on Monday.

China views Taiwan as its own territory, and China-Taiwan tensions have ⁠featured prominently at the meeting, which is intended to demonstrate regional unity.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters

Countries legally obliged to consider slavery reparations, says UN committee

31 August 2026 at 14:54

Guidance says states must implement ‘comprehensive measures’ to address legacy of racial discrimination

A UN committee has said countries are legally obliged to consider reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and take other ⁠measures to address the enduring ⁠legacy of racial ​discrimination.

Guidance published on Monday by the committee on the elimination of racial discrimination (CERD) said the obligations arose from ⁠a legally binding 1965 convention on racial discrimination, not from the legal standards that existed when the slave trade took place.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

© Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

© Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Countries legally obliged to consider slavery reparations, says UN committee

31 August 2026 at 14:54

Guidance says states must implement ‘comprehensive measures’ to address legacy of racial discrimination

A UN committee has said countries are legally obliged to consider reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and take other ⁠measures to address the enduring ⁠legacy of racial ​discrimination.

Guidance published on Monday by the committee on the elimination of racial discrimination (CERD) said the obligations arose from ⁠a legally binding 1965 convention on racial discrimination, not from the legal standards that existed when the slave trade took place.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

© Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

© Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Nearly 20 people still missing after ferry capsizes ⁠off northern Cyprus

31 August 2026 at 12:49

Divers join search teams scouring deep waters for ⁠any survivors, with eight people so far confirmed to have died

Nearly 20 people are still missing after a ferry capsized ⁠off northern Cyprus, killing at least eight, as divers join search teams scouring deep waters for ⁠any survivors.

The double-hulled ⁠ferry ​with 267 people onboard took in water and flipped over on Sunday just off the port city ⁠of Kyrenia, leaving survivors clinging to the upturned hull. They were rescued by passing vessels and members of the coastguard.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Nearly 20 people still missing after ferry capsizes ⁠off northern Cyprus

31 August 2026 at 12:49

Divers join search teams scouring deep waters for ⁠any survivors, with eight people so far confirmed to have died

Nearly 20 people are still missing after a ferry capsized ⁠off northern Cyprus, killing at least eight, as divers join search teams scouring deep waters for ⁠any survivors.

The double-hulled ⁠ferry ​with 267 people onboard took in water and flipped over on Sunday just off the port city ⁠of Kyrenia, leaving survivors clinging to the upturned hull. They were rescued by passing vessels and members of the coastguard.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

USDA reportedly shelves cyclospora research amid relocations and fund cuts

31 August 2026 at 00:10

Trump officials shuttering three projects on foodborne parasite, two defunded by Congress, Politico reports

The Trump administration is shuttering ⁠two of the three US Department of Agriculture research projects studying cyclospora after the foodborne parasite has ⁠sickened tens of thousands of Americans during the summer, Politico reported on Sunday.

The two projects were defunded by Congress earlier in the year, while the third is ⁠due to be moved in coming months from Maryland to Iowa as part of a broader USDA reorganization, according to the ⁠report.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: J David Ake/Getty Images

© Photograph: J David Ake/Getty Images

© Photograph: J David Ake/Getty Images

Woman, 22, killed and five injured in shooting at Swiss rave

30 August 2026 at 18:00

Manhunt under way after Italian dies from her injuries in the town of Aarau in the early hours of Sunday

A manhunt is under way in Switzerland after a 22-year-old woman was killed ⁠and five people were injured, ⁠some seriously, in a ​shooting at a rave in the northern town of Aarau, local police have said.

In the attack in the early hours of Sunday at a techno party at a covered horse-racing track, an Italian woman died from her injuries at the scene, authorities said. All those caught up in the shooting were residents of Switzerland and in their 20s.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Harold Cunningham/AFP/Getty

© Photograph: Harold Cunningham/AFP/Getty

© Photograph: Harold Cunningham/AFP/Getty

AA could face £5bn takeover move by German insurer Allianz, reports claim

30 August 2026 at 12:26

Breakdown recovery group’s private equity owners reportedly in talks with various suitors to sell company

The German-based financial services company ⁠Allianz is considering a £5bn takeover swoop for AA, ⁠the breakdown ⁠recovery ​group, Sky News has reported.

Allianz was ‌one of a small number of parties holding talks with advisers to AA about a deal, Sky News said, adding that ‌the private equity outfit EQT was another bidder.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: ZarkePix/Alamy

© Photograph: ZarkePix/Alamy

© Photograph: ZarkePix/Alamy

Woman, 22, killed and five injured in shooting at Swiss rave

30 August 2026 at 18:00

Manhunt under way after Italian dies from her injuries in the town of Aarau in the early hours of Sunday

A manhunt is under way in Switzerland after a 22-year-old woman was killed ⁠and five people were injured, ⁠some seriously, in a ​shooting at a rave in the northern town of Aarau, local police have said.

In the attack in the early hours of Sunday at a techno party at a covered horse-racing track, an Italian woman died from her injuries at the scene, authorities said. All those caught up in the shooting were residents of Switzerland and in their 20s.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Harold Cunningham/AFP/Getty

© Photograph: Harold Cunningham/AFP/Getty

© Photograph: Harold Cunningham/AFP/Getty

‘Special for Norway’: Leknessund breaks clear to win stage seven of Vuelta

28 August 2026 at 19:23
  • Norway in mourning after death of King Harald

  • ‘It’s only a small thing in the bigger picture’

The Norwegian Andreas Leknessund launched a successful solo attack on ⁠the final climb to the summit finish of Aramón Valdelinares to win stage ⁠seven of the ⁠Vuelta ​a España, ahead of his Uno-X Mobility teammate and compatriot Tobias Johannessen on a day ⁠when their country mourned the death of King Harald.

Leknessund made his move from ⁠a five-rider breakaway 7.5km from the finish at ​the end of the ‌149.8km ride from ‌Vall d’Alba, and pulled away to win his first ‌Grand Tour stage on his Vuelta debut.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: José Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: José Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: José Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

❌