World: what everyone agrees on, and where they don't

Pope Leo XIV, 71, is recovering at Rome's Gemelli Hospital following a 90-minute surgery on Tuesday to remove a cancerous nodule and the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, which was detected at an early stage. While the Vatican reports the pontiff is 'progressing as expected'—having resumed walking and a normal diet—the President of Peru suggested the recovery might take longer than initially anticipated. This diagnosis marks the first major health issue of Leo's 17-month papacy, which began in 2025. Cu

The trial of Serhii Kuznetsov, a 50-year-old former Ukrainian army officer, began in Hamburg, Germany, on October 14, 2026. He is accused of leading a team of saboteurs who used a yacht called the Andromeda to bomb the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022. German prosecutors have charged him with war crimes for attacking civilian infrastructure, alleging the plot was conceived by Ukrainian state agencies to disrupt Russian gas revenues. While the defense argues the evidence is circumstantial, the trial highlights a sensitive diplomatic situation between Germany and Ukraine, both of whom

On October 10, 2026, Russian glide bombs struck residential areas in Zaporizhzhia, resulting in significant casualties including at least 11 to 15 deaths and 16 injuries. The attack, which hit an apartment block and other buildings, occurred shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel to lower domestic fuel prices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky linked the timing of the strike to the U.S. deal, arguing that easing economic pressure emboldens Russian military aggression.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with Britain’s prime minister, has said Ukraine received no warning of Russian attacks, but President Trump has said Washington is still “sharing intel.”

Britain's domestic spy chief says "hybrid tactics" used by Russia and Iran are evolving. Here are some of the most notable incidents of 2026.

Britain's domestic spy chief says "hybrid tactics" used by Russia and Iran are evolving. Here are some of the most notable incidents of 2026.

It is the latest in a series of crackdowns on media critical of the Turkish president and his government.

This year’s winner has a long history of blaming Israel for the world’s problems.

On October 13, 2026, 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Witnesses report Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other passengers, and fell to the ground beneath the attraction. The Cobb County Police and the Georgia Office of the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner are conducting investigations. In response, Six Flags and SeaWorld Orlando have temporarily closed several similar roller coasters manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard as a precaution. Kariem was a long-time IT manager and educator at Wesley Internat

MI5 Director General Ken McCallum delivered an annual threat update warning that the UK has entered a new era of national security characterized by escalating 'hybrid warfare' from Russia and Iran. McCallum identified Russia as the primary state aggressor, noting that Moscow is increasingly using criminal proxies for sabotage and cyberattacks to avoid direct military conflict. Simultaneously, Iran has expanded its targeting from dissidents and Jewish communities to include military installations, resulting in over 50 arrests in the past year. The briefing also highlighted the risks of artifici

The Houthi rebels are developing their own advanced ballistic missiles -- that could reach Saudi Arabia and Israel -- using Chinese-delivered parts, according to an unnerving new report.

Ukraine says Starlink access has improved but it is still facing speed limits which are disrupting its battlefield "missions".