Health agency names two schools affected by Berkshire meningitis outbreak

• On September 2, Democrats accused a politically appointed panel of delaying decisions regarding the security detail for the Golan Heights. • In separate developments, the US president declined to provide a timeline for the end of the current war and expressed understanding toward unarmed Iranian protesters.

• Recent Ipsos research indicates that a significant majority of Italians, approximately 79%, oppose the conflict involving Iran. • The data reveals a strong preference among the Italian public to avoid direct involvement in Middle East tensions to prevent further escalation.

• Recent attacks across Ukraine, specifically targeting Kyiv and Odesa, have resulted in significant civilian casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure. • Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale highlighted a concerning pattern of strikes on energy grids, railway systems, warehouses, and shopping malls.

• Renewed fighting in West Asia highlights a global trend of instability and imprudent escalation. • Iran is reportedly collaborating with Russian missile specialists to develop a ramjet propulsion system for faster anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.

• On Monday, August 31, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that India cannot unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. • The five-member tribunal issued a unanimous decision rejecting all arguments presented by New Delhi since April 2025 to justify the suspension.

• Hilroy issued a formal apology after its notebooks were found to be missing Newfoundland and Cape Breton from their maps of Canada. • In a separate legal matter, a bus driver is facing charges following a severe crash in 2025 that resulted in injuries to 33 passengers.

• France, serving as the President of the Security Council for September, announced a work programme focused on addressing critical issues in Haiti, Iran, and Sudan. • The agenda was detailed by the French representative during a press conference held at the UN Headquarters.

Queensland open-cut Saraji mine will be able to keep digging until 2055 as Anthony Albanese denies tensions with Pacific leaders over fossil fuelsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s new national agency for environmental protection has approved its first coal project, allowing a Queensland open-cut mine to keep digging until 2055 while clearing threatened woodland and koala habitat.The confirmation of the extension of the Saraji mine, which digs and exports coal for steel making, comes after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, denied this week there was tension over Australia’s fossil fuel exports during talks with Pacific leaders. Continue reading...

Tony Ticehurst confronts Daniel Billings during sentence hearing in regional NSW, stating: ‘When she died, part of me died with her’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe family of Molly Ticehurst, who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend Daniel Billings in her home in central western New South Wales in 2024, has come face-to-face with her killer.Tony Ticehurst on Thursday described his 28-year-old daughter as big-hearted and deeply loved. She was his best friend and confidant, he told the supreme court in Orange. Continue reading...

NSW police called to Redfern on Wednesday night found a 17-year-old with a partially severed handFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA teenage boy will face court today after a “near-complete amputation” of a boy’s hand during an alleged assault in Sydney on Wednesday night.New South Wales police were called to Redfern about 6pm last night and found a 17-year-old with a partially severed hand. Continue reading...

Bank says gold reserves held in London could be traded more easily and the move will allow it to respond more rapidly in a ‘crisis situation’The Dutch central bank says it has moved 86 tonnes of its gold reserves out of the US and Canada to London, citing “increasing geopolitical unrest”.De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) said gold reserves held in London could be traded more easily than those held in New York and Ottawa. Continue reading...

Oil consumption plummets and EV sales soar as analysts say demand may not fully return even if crude price fallsChina’s carbon dioxide emissions fell by 1% after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, thanks to a sharp reduction in oil consumption and a steady rise in the use of electric vehicles and public transport, analysis shows.The report reveals the role of clean energy in cushioning the price shocks caused by the strait of Hormuz crisis to the world’s biggest oil importer. It also reinforces hopes that China, which is the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, may be nearing a turning point in decarbonising its economy. Continue reading...