Sydney Morning Herald World News

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:11:02 +1100
Russia plague did not escape from test tube, says dead scientist’s mother
Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician at the Siberian anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk, died on October 2 after being taken to hospital in the nearby town of Shelekhov.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:36:00 +1100
‘My Bill’: Sir William Heseltine, private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II who helped to modernise the monarchy, dies
Heseltine, born in Fremantle, helped shake up the royal family’s public image, convincing them to participate in a television documentary and devising that now-famous feature of tours, the walkabout.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:09:58 +1100
Mamdani is jeered at October 7 vigil as protesters call him traitor to Palestinian cause
Since his election, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has walked a fine line in his stance on the situation in the Middle East.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:57:44 +1100
Lawyers reveal Christa Pike’s first words after she woke from botched execution
The convicted murderer was believed to be brain-dead on Monday night and was going to have her life support switched off when she regained consciousness on Tuesday morning and began speaking.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:57:37 +1100
While the world is watching reports of plague in Russia, deadly Ebola is breaking borders
Kenya’s first Ebola death – a man who travelled undetected through three countries – has raised questions about how to trace the virus across borders.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:39:55 +1100
‘Significant corruption’: US sanctions Chinese businessman over alleged ‘bribes’ in Fiji
The US State Department moved against Zhao Fugang two years after an investigation by this masthead revealed allegations that he was operating as an organised crime boss in the Pacific nation.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:24:23 +1100
Israel holds October 7 memorials
Israel has marked three years since the October 7 attack, with sombre memorials across the country.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:11:17 +1100
France bans stun grenades after boy loses hand
French police have halted the use of stun grenades at student protests after a teenage boy's hand was blown off.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:19:23 +1100
Hijacker planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, says Israel
Eytan Ben-David, the national security adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu and a former aviation security chief, said the flydubai pilot had been planning last week’s attack for months.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:19:00 +1100
Australian painter immortalises Jane Goodall on her final trip to Tanzania
Celebrated royal portrait artist Ralph Heimans captured a different type of royalty when he accompanied the late anthropologist on her last meeting with her beloved chimpanzees.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:11:53 +1100
Death row prisoner alive and speaking after botched execution
US death row inmate Christa Pike is “conscious” and “speaking” following her failed execution, her lawyers say.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:28:50 +1100
Vigils mark anniversary of Hamas October 7 attack
Vigils are being held across the country, including at Bondi, to mark the third anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel when 1200 people were killed.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:57:54 +1100
Student protests in France turn violent
Tens of thousands of protesters have rallied in cities across France demanding better education funding.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:57:30 +1100
Warner Bros. and Paramount merger complete
The new company, Skydance, brings together the studios behind Mission Impossible, Harry Potter and DC Studios with television networks CBS and CNN.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:52:44 +1100
Mega-rich couple accused of keeping 21 children in ‘house of horrors’ among LA’s elite
Fifteen children were removed from the opulent home last year after an allegation of abuse, and another six living elsewhere were also located.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:53:54 +1100
US to spend billions on new shipyard for AUKUS submarines
President Donald Trump travelled to Baltimore to make the announcement, which administration officials promised would bolster the lagging production rate of Virginia-class vessels.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:01 +1100
‘Mr Security’ led Germany’s top spy agency for years. He’s now suspected of selling state secrets
In what could amount to Europe’s gravest intelligence scandal in decades, former BND chief August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:42:38 +1100
‘Against all odds’: Christa Pike awake and speaking after botched Tennessee execution
Pike’s recovery is “medically unprecedented” but her prognosis remains unclear, her lawyers said in a statement.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:56:17 +1100
Flames, tear gas and stun grenades: How a stoush over classrooms and toilets exploded into violent mass protests
The fury in France reached a new peak when at least 250,000 people joined rallies that have confronted police and spread flames on the streets.

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:05:08 +1100
Riot police fire tear gas as thousands rally for school funding in France
Demonstrations swept across the country as teachers and parents took to the streets with high school pupils.

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