8 October 2026

Australia on alert as mystery Russian plague outbreak sparks fears of lab leak

Downunder Voices Newsroom

Australia is keeping a close eye on a suspected plague outbreak in Russia, now rumoured to have claimed a second life. The federal government insists there’s no elevated risk here yet, but Moscow is ...

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Nicolás Maduro and his wife indicted for alleged torture of US citizens

World

8 October 2026

Nicolás Maduro and his wife indicted for alleged torture of US citizens

Ousted Venezuelan president and Cilia Flores have been in jail in New York since early January The deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted for alleged conspiracy to commit torture, according to Manhattan federal court papers unsealed on Thursday. The superseding indictment was unsealed shortly before Flores appeared at court in her ongoing push for pre-trial release – which was denied by Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Maduro and Flores have been held in a New York City jail since early January.

Source: The Guardian WorldOriginal source

Ethiopia launches drone attack against Eritrean troops who crossed into Tigray

World

8 October 2026

Ethiopia launches drone attack against Eritrean troops who crossed into Tigray

Government forces’ attack raises risk of internal conflict in Ethiopia that could trigger regional war Eritrean troops who crossed into Ethiopia’s Tigray region have come under drone attack from government forces, raising the risk that renewed internal conflict in Ethiopia could trigger an all-out regional war between the neighbouring countries. Military vehicles carrying soldiers drove across Eritrea’s southern border into Tigray on Wednesday, reaching the town of Adigrat 25 miles (40km) south, according to civilian witnesses, a militia commander and the conflict monitoring group Acled.

Source: The Guardian WorldOriginal source

Researchers find 180,000 giant tortoises living on island in Seychelles

World

8 October 2026

Researchers find 180,000 giant tortoises living on island in Seychelles

Figure is highest ever recorded for species and confirms one of Indian Ocean’s greatest conservation success stories A survey of the world’s largest free-roaming giant tortoise population has revealed that the once endangered species is thriving. A population of Aldabra giant tortoises lives on an island in Seychelles called Aldabra Atoll.

Source: The Guardian WorldOriginal source