section
Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
5125 stories archived
VW workers boo boss as he urges them to ‘pull together’ amid job cuts
Oliver Blume faces workforce at German HQ as carmaker struggles against Chinese competition and US tariffs The chief executive of Volkswagen has faced boos and whistles of protest at the company’s headquarters after telling thousands of workers that a comprehensive reorganisation, which could include job losses and factory closures, is vital for its future. As Oliver Blume urged more than 10,000 workers on Tuesday to “pull together”, saying drastic restructuring measures at the struggling manufacturer were essential, they held up banners and shouted slogans, including: “Our jobs are not your balance sheet adjustments”. Continue reading...
Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex-trafficking appeal, calling claims ‘demonstrably meritless’
Maxwell sought to vacate Epstein-related conviction, alleging hidden trial evidence and juror’s abuse history Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell ’s legal effort to throw out her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges and 20-year prison sentence, calling her claims “demonstrably meritless, and generally based on speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods”. In a 67-page decision filed on Tuesday, US district judge Paul Engelmayer for New York’s southern district denied the former British socialite’s petition for relief, finding that Maxwell had failed to make a substantial showing that her constitutional rights were denied when she was convicted for her role in crimes linked to late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein . Continue reading...
Ukrainian star leaves LSU women’s basketball team after signing of Russian recruit
Center Kate Koval departs after one season with Tigers Anna Minaeva of Russia joined team earlier this month Kim Mulkey hoped two could be ‘ambassadors’ for peace Ukrainian center Kate Koval is leaving LSU less than two weeks after the Tigers brought in a player from Russia. LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Monday night that Koval was leaving for “personal reasons”, adding that the program will “respect her privacy on her decision”. Continue reading...
Badenoch plotted to remove Sunak as PM months before election, book claims
Anthony Seldon’s book alleges Badenoch asked fellow Tory ministers ‘if anyone was interested in changing the captain’ Kemi Badenoch plotted with fellow Conservative cabinet ministers to remove Rishi Sunak as prime minister months before the general election, it has been claimed. Anthony Seldon, who has written political biographies of every prime minister since John Major, has alleged in a new book that Badenoch, who was business secretary at the time, phoned several other cabinet ministers to ask “if anyone was interested in changing the captain”. Continue reading...
The ex-gang member breaking the cycle of violence among LA youths
‘A child isn’t born to commit gun violence,’ Francisco Villarruel says Francisco Villarruel and Gustavo Galvez sat in a park in Los Angeles reminiscing on their first boxing lesson together. They had gone to a big commercial gym, where they took turns hitting boxing pads and doing footwork exercises. They then started regularly training together. For Villarruel, 40, working out together wasn’t really about boxing. It was about giving Galvez, 19, an opportunity to open up and to mentor someone whose pain he understands. “ I think a lot of the traumatic scenarios that he went through are very similar to mine in my upbringing,” Villarruel said. Continue reading...
One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts ‘in two minds’ about whether gay people should be equal
Footage shows senator on stage at the Church and State conference responding to question about party’s director James Ashby Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts told a conference earlier this year that he was in “two minds” about whether gay people should have equal rights. In footage from June’s Church and State conference, released on Sunday, the senator can be seen responding to a question about James Ashby, the party’s director, who is gay. Continue reading...
New York business group sues Mamdani over city-owned grocery stores plan
Multicultural Business Coalition sues New York City mayor, alleging plan for city-run stores will harm smaller grocers A New York City business group sued mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday over his plan to create five municipally owned grocery stores. The Multicultural Business Coalition, which says it represents hundreds of small supermarkets, filed two lawsuits in New York county supreme court on Monday, arguing that the plan violates the civil rights of smaller, immigrant- and minority-owned businesses. The group argues that smaller stores would be unable to match the discounts offered by the city grocery stores and “therefore, will be put out of business,” according to the lawsuits. Continue reading...
Billie Piper stalker jailed for 12 months after breaching prevention order
Philip Jerome, 49, repeatedly tried to contact the actor in the hope they would begin a relationship, court hears A fan obsessed with Billie Piper has been jailed for 12 months after breaching a stalking prevention order. Philip Jerome, 49, had a sexual interest in the singer and actor and repeatedly tried to get in touch with her in the hope they would end up in a relationship, a court in Hampshire was told. Continue reading...
Louisiana supreme court justice wins rare $300,000 defamation trial against newspaper
Then Advocate editor-in-chief and writer testified editorial was not part of agenda against Jefferson Davis Hughes III A jury on Monday awarded $300,000 to a Louisiana supreme court justice over a 2019 editorial by the state’s largest newspaper in a rare defamation trial involving an elected public official. Jurors in Iberville parish, Louisiana, found that the editorial whose headline included “Jeff Hughes … made a mockery of justice” and was published by the Advocate had defamed state supreme court justice Jefferson Davis Hughes III. The $300,000 in damages that the jury awarded Hughes were nonetheless significantly less than the $10m he sought for what he described as injury to his reputation and emotional distress. Continue reading...
Two unvaccinated people die of measles in Pennsylvania
Deaths from disease are first in state in 35 years and just one day after Maryland declared outbreak in three counties Two unvaccinated individuals have died of measles in Pennsylvania, state health officials announced on Tuesday. The deaths are the first in the state in 35 years and have been announced just one day after Maryland declared a measles outbreak in three counties. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to medicine, and is preventable with a highly effective vaccine. Continue reading...
Sex sells and wins votes – and the Democrats know it | Arwa Mahdawi
Wonder why they’re posting flirty photos and wearing tight T-shirts? It’s a thirst trap strategy in motion Despite being a card-carrying member of the International Order of Confirmed Homosexuals, I have spent quite a lot of time lately thinking about Abdul El-Sayed’s biceps. I mean, have you seen them? The progressive Michigan senate nominee is jacked and he knows it. He almost always wears a tight black T-shirt to show off his muscles and incorporates a lot of fitness content in his campaign. I’m not the only one who has noticed El-Sayed’s prominent muscles. They have had a lot of coverage, and are seen as part of a wider attempt to rebrand the Democratic party. Which, I don’t need to tell you, has a serious image problem; a poll in March found that the party is looked on even less favourably than the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. So, to make it look less like a party that is full of out-of-touch technocrats who sound as if they are reading from a 500-page PowerPoint presentation every time they try to explain anything, Democrats seem to be trying to up the sex appeal. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...
‘Not any old vermin’: rats numbers are on the rise thanks to global heating – and poison may not be the answer
Robert Corrigan has been dealing with the ‘smart’ rodents all his life – and believes there are better solutions to deal with the growing infestation in the world’s cities “The rodents have paid for every single bill I’ve ever had – every mortgage, every car payment, every pint of Guinness,” says Dr Robert Corrigan. “It’s been a great ride and I’m still at it.” New York-based Corrigan is one of the most respected voices in the world of rodentology. Now in his 70s, he has devoted his entire adult life to studying rats and our relationship with them. Continue reading...
‘An enchanting oasis’: Venetian island with Napoleonic fort up for sale
Smaller than a football pitch, Crevan has a rich history – but how rich its buyer needs to be is strictly under wraps An island in the Venice lagoon boasting a Napoleonic fort and lush gardens is up for sale. Described as an “enchanting oasis of peace and beauty”, Crevan offers a “spectacular view” of Venice’s main island, but is far from its crowds. Continue reading...
Mother and two-year-old daughter killed by lightning strike in Florida
Kenya Glasgow and her toddler died after lightning struck in Margate, near Fort Lauderdale A mother and her toddler were killed recently by a lightning strike in south Florida , local authorities said. The tragedy happened in Margate, near Fort Lauderdale, on Sunday. The victims were Kenya Glasgow, 31, and her two-year-old daughter, named in media reports as Kennedi. Continue reading...
Five more people arrested over A66 crash that killed seven people
News comes day after 12 people were arrested over crash in which car drove wrong way along dual carriageway Five more people have been arrested by detectives investigating the events leading up to the crash on the A66 that killed seven people, including two police officers. Cleveland police made the announcement after 12 people were arrested on Monday. Continue reading...
Third drone and suspected military explosives found near Leipzig airport
Local media report discovery by German investigators after attempted attack on cargo and military logistics hub Europe live – latest updates German investigators uncovered a third drone and suspected military explosives thought to be connected to an attempted attack on Leipzig airport, local media have reported. The drone was discovered in Kabelsketal, just to the west of the airport, along with about 50g (1.8oz) of a suspected military explosive on 14 August, 10 days after the unsuccessful sabotage . Leipzig airport is a cargo and military logistics hub used by Nato and Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines for transporting military supplies. Continue reading...
First Thing: Supreme court threatens midterms mail-in voting as it backs Trump plan
US president has been obsessed with restricting the ability to vote by mail, despite using it himself. Plus why we are still so fascinated with Meg from the White Stripes Good morning. The US supreme court has sided with Donald Trump in his effort to crack down on mail-in voting , though it is unclear whether or not his administration will be able to take action before the midterm elections in November. The court’s justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift an injunction that a judge in Massachusetts had placed in June on an executive order issued by the president. But a second injunction remains in place, and the ruling leaves room for legal challenges. Trump has repeatedly likened voting by mail to cheating, despite his own use of it and overwhelming evidence that the system is secure. In March he ordered the government to create a “state citizenship list” of eligible voters, requiring that mail-in ballots only be delivered to people on that list. He also directed the justice department to prioritise investigations and prosecutions of state and local election officials who issue ballots to people deemed ineligible to vote in federal elections. What did the dissenting judges say? In a blistering dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that the decision “needlessly injects chaos and uncertainty into the upcoming midterm elections”. How have rights organisations reacted? The president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Derrick Johnson, said: “Let this ruling be a reminder that democracy is never, ever guaranteed. We have to fight for it, we have to fight to keep it and we have to protect the rights we do have within it … they are trying to do everything they possibly can to make it difficult for you to vote.” How has Canada reacted? The country’s prime minister, Mark Carney, told reporters that Trump’s announcement was largely expected. “It’s not a surprise for us that the US would take some form of reprisal to our response to their unjustified tariff,” he said. Carney has vowed to match the American tariffs “dollar for dollar”, and said Canada could not accept any proposed trade deal that would weaken French language protections . Continue reading...
Andrew Tate rented supercars to appear ‘uberwealthy’, says his lawyer
Self-described misogynist and his brother, Tristan are playing role to generate income from online attention, Miami court filing says Andrew Tate rented supercars and borrowed a yacht to appear “uberwealthy” and generate online engagement, his lawyer has said. Legal representatives for the self-described misogynist social media influencer and his brother, Tristan Tate, have claimed the pair deliberately portray themselves as far wealthier than they are because their “business model depends on online attention”. Continue reading...
Angel Reese breaks two WNBA rebounding records in one night during Dream win
24-year-old breaks single game and single season record Reese’s 26 rebounds help Atlanta to win over Los Angeles Angel Reese rebounded her way into the record books not once, but twice in one night. Reese set a WNBA record with 26 rebounds in the Atlanta Dream’s 78-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday, pushing her past the season record in the same game. “Last time I was here, I didn’t miss any shots. Tonight I couldn’t hit [anything] so I knew I was going be able to get them on the rebounding side,” Reese said after the game. “I just want to be there for my team. Offensively, defensively, whatever it takes to win.” Continue reading...
A rare win in Indian country: how tribes drove out a mining company in one week
At the sacred prairie of Pe’ Sla in South Dakota, Indigenous and environmental groups banded together to halt drilling This story was co-published and supported by the journalism non-profit the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. When two Oglala Lakota scouts heard drilling was expected to begin on Pe’ Sla, the sacred prairie in the Black Hills of South Dakota, they set out on back trails. They needed to find out where. That’s when they saw a deer break ahead and a red-tailed hawk soar above them – less like a coincidence than being led, the scouts said. Over a rise, they came upon a road freshly cut to the dirt. They followed it, past a parked truck. “Oh my god,” one of them said, seeing a drill turning. “They’re drilling now!” Continue reading...
US fossil fuel lobbyists also represent hundreds of cities fighting for climate damages
Local governments working with firms also linked to fossil fuel giants, analysis of federal lobbying disclosures shows Congressional lobbyists working for fossil fuel firms that are exacerbating the climate crisis are simultaneously representing more than 300 local governments raising funding to recover from climate damage, according to a new analysis. The research by F Minus and Make Polluters Pay reviewed congressional lobbying disclosures for the first quarter of 2026, finding that another 568 local governments hired fossil fuel lobbyists to work on non-climate related issues during that time, some of which included climate adjacent issues, like healthcare and home insurance. Continue reading...
No, AI doesn’t mean the end of mathematics – at least not yet | Bruce Schneier and Kasra Rafi
Mathematicians are raising concerns that the technology could kill their profession. But they still have abilities AI doesn’t Earlier this month, about 40 top mathematicians gathered at OpenAI’s offices to discuss the future of their profession. The meeting was off-the-record, but if recent articles by mathematicians are any guide, it was mostly pretty glum. People fear for their jobs, their careers and the work they love. We think the contrary view is more likely, at least in the short-term. AI models are nowhere near as capable as experienced academic mathematicians. Continue reading...
Artist known for sculptures of Mao Zedong jailed for slandering ‘heroes and martyrs’
Gao Zhen sentenced to three years in prison after already spending two years in detention Gao Zhen, a prominent Chinese artist known for provocative sculptures of the former leader Mao Zedong, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of slandering China’s “heroes and martyrs”. The sentencing came two years after he was detained while visiting the country with his family, according to his wife and human rights groups. The case has attracted international condemnation , largely because the artworks at the centre of the case were created more than 10 years before China created the law under which Gao was charged. Continue reading...
China denounces US threat of sanctions over trade with Iran
Beijing says it will take ‘all necessary measures’ to protect its interests as US steps up efforts to isolate Tehran Explainer: could US sanctions threaten China-Iran ties? China has denounced the threat of US sanctions for its trade with Iran , saying any such measures would be illegal, and warned it will take “all necessary measures” to protect its national interests. Beijing’s rejection of the US threat of secondary sanctions for any country or entity continuing to trade with Tehran had been predicted. China buys an estimated 80% of Iran’s oil exports and it has defied previous US efforts to limit the flow of revenue to the Tehran regime. Continue reading...