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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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‘Our future is being stolen’: Greta Thunberg joins students protesting in Paris
Swedish activist stands alongside French teenagers calling for investment to fix teacher shortages and crumbling schools The Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has joined demonstrating high school students in France as the country braced for another day of nationwide protests over chronic teacher shortages, overcrowded classes and crumbling buildings . “Young people are not being included in the conversation,” Thunberg, 23, who became famous as a teenager through school strikes demanding action on the climate crisis, told reporters outside the Lycée Paul Éluard in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. Continue reading...
How a scandal engulfing Brazil’s top court could return the Bolsonaros to power
The judge who helped convict Jair Bolsonaro is caught up in a crisis that could benefit his son and damage Lula Marina Silva on Flávio Bolsonaro: He will try to finish his father’s ‘perverse project’ to destroy the Amazon Thundering to a crowd of thousands of far-right supporters in São Paulo on 7 September, Brazil’s Independence Day, the senator Flávio Bolsonaro focused less on his opponent in the presidential election , the leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, than on someone who is not running at all. “Whoever votes for Lula is voting for Alexandre de Moraes ,” Bolsonaro shouted, referring to the shaven-headed supreme court justice once described as “Voldemort” by Elon Musk. Continue reading...
‘No one’s here, no one knows’: north-east Ohio is ground zero for ICE flights
Away from the public eye, deportation planes at Youngstown-Warren and Akron-Canton airports carry hundreds of immigrants daily amid Trump’s ICE crackdown Just after 10.30am on a recent weekday morning, a Bombardier CRJ200 Air Wisconsin aircraft landed at Youngstown-Warren regional airport. Having made the 75-minute flight from Milwaukee, the 50-seater came to a halt and its twin engines fired down next to another Air Wisconsin plane and a larger Eastern Air Express Boeing 737, planes that flew in the evening before from Alexandria, Louisiana. Continue reading...
Millions of Medicaid recipients to face draconian requirements as of 1 January
Trump’s reform law that seeks to make coverage harder to get, and to keep, includes working 80 hours per month It is a date keeping US healthcare providers up at night: 1 January 2027. As the midterm elections loom, everyone from hospital leaders and to patient advocates are focused on the New Year, when Republicans scheduled the most controversial elements of their healthcare reform law to go into effect. Continue reading...
UK holiday demand may have peaked amid cost of living squeeze, says travel industry
Spain remains most popular destination as Britons book later in hope of better deals, Abta report finds Business live – latest updates The UK’s cost of living squeeze means fewer people plan to ringfence money for holiday abroad next year, the travel industry warned on Tuesday. Despite war, wildfires and EES border checks, the numbers of Britons taking holidays climbed back to pre-pandemic levels this year – but rising costs may mean the numbers have peaked, according to an annual travel industry report. Continue reading...
Ex-Chicago detective identified as killing child in 65-year cold case
Police used recently discovered DNA to pin murder of eight-year-old girl on Thomas McInerney, who died in 2006 Chicago police on Monday said they recently used newly discovered DNA evidence to tie the 1960 murder of an eight-year-old girl to one of its own former homicide detectives. Thomas McInerney had been dead for 20 years by the time authorities issued a statement identifying him as the killer of Gloria Kowalewicz – well after retiring from the Chicago police department (CPD) and two federal public defender’s offices in Nevada where he worked as an investigator. Continue reading...
Anne Aly reveals she has received 19 death threats in the last week alone
After an MP said she should be ‘shamed and stoned’, federal minister hit back at ‘racist and misogynistic’ language Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Anne Aly has condemned as “racist” and “misogynistic” comments in parliament calling for her to be “stoned in the square” – while revealing she has received 19 death threats in the last week alone. Gold Coast Liberal National MP, Angie Bell, the member for Moncrieff, told the House of Representatives that Aly, the small business minister, and the prime minister should be “shamed and stoned in the square” over a decision made by the tax office. Continue reading...
US midterm elections: 10 under-the-radar races worth watching
Though Democrats have a strong edge heading into the midterms, some races have openings for Republicans While marquee races from Maine to Michigan get all the attention, and draw in a ton of money, a significant batch of lower-profile contests across the US could result in upsets. Democrats have a strong edge heading into November’s US midterm elections, polls show. In recent days, election prognosticators have shifted even more races in favor of Democrats. Continue reading...
AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton: ‘We’re creating alien beings. I’m willing to be selfish and choose humans’
Pioneering computer scientist on why Trump is using ‘superintelligence’ wrong, whether AI could wipe out humanity – and how our biggest challenge will be accepting we’re not the only intelligent beings Donald Trump is a “corrupt, senile felon” whose fixation on the term superintelligence proves he knows nothing about AI , said Geoffrey Hinton , “godfather” of the technology, in a wide-ranging interview where he doubled down on recent warnings that AI models pose an existential threat to humanity and scoffed at claims the industry could regulate itself. The pioneering computer scientist, whose work helped lay the foundations of modern AI, has since become one of the technology’s most vocal critics. His latest remarks come after a tumultuous month during which a growing list of senior AI scientists and researchers have joined Hinton in ringing the alarm about how the technology he helped create could ultimately escape human control, sparking an industry crisis, the hasty assembly of congressional meetings and a rare global consensus that something must be done. Continue reading...
The Ballon d’Or doesn’t capture football’s wonder – Michael Olise is proof | Zito Madu
France’s always-cool winger has crowds hanging on his every move – adulation that means more than any title could When I was younger, I wanted to be the captain on my football team because back then, I assumed that the armband was given to the best player. It was a goal of mine for so long that, even as my youth teams won tournaments and trophies, and I won top scorer and best player awards, I still felt unsatisfied because someone else always had the armband. Whenever I saw another teammate sprinting around with the armband on, I took it as an indictment. I had forgotten this childish way of thinking until France v Belgium in the Uefa Nations League last week. Ousmane Dembélé, who was wearing the armband for France, was particularly active. Had it not been for the wastefulness of his teammates, he would have had several assists during his time on the field. Continue reading...
Christian Pulisic is no longer a focal point for the US or Milan – and that’s OK
The winger is 28, and younger teammates are rising into the high-pressure spots he has usually occupied Usually, the second weekend of October sees Christian Pulisic flanked by compatriots as the Star-Spangled Banner plays. Last year, he was involved in US friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. But this year, with Fifa having folded the October window into September, Pulisic didn’t have the chance. On Sunday, his prescribed pre-match music was O Generosa, the Serie A anthem, which he observed with a soft smile. Mark Twain’s first visit to Italy left him describing the country as “a vast museum of magnificence and misery,” and it’s a fitting summary of Pulisic’s three-plus years with Milan. The magnificence: 43 goals and 28 assists in 138 appearances. The misery: just one trophy since he arrived in July 2023, a 2025 Supercoppa Italia held in Saudi Arabia. Continue reading...
Farage denies Reform would let troops shoot small boats after Jenrick’s ‘lethal force’ claim
Party leader says Jenrick’s comments ‘misconstrued’, after MP said Royal Marines would be allowed to fire at those on boats UK politics live – latest updates Nigel Farage has denied that a Reform UK government would authorise lethal force against migrant crossings in the Channel, hours after one of his MPs said the Royal Marines should be permitted to fire on the boats. Robert Jenrick, a Reform UK MP who defected from the Conservatives, had told TalkTV that the party would deploy the Royal Marines to take boats back to France. Continue reading...
Child safety staff determined to send Elizabeth Struhs home with parents despite doctors’ concerns, inquest hears
Queensland coronial inquest into death of eight-year-old girl continues after 14 members of religious sect were convicted of her manslaughter It was impossible to change the mind of child safety staff after they had decided to send Elizabeth Struhs home with her parents despite some of her doctors’ concerns, a police officer has told a coronial inquest into the young girl’s death. Child safety staff decided in 2019 that it would be “more detrimental” to not return Elizabeth, aged six at the time, to her Toowoomba home upon her discharge from hospital after suffering a coma due to diabetic ketoacidosis , a Queensland coroner heard. Continue reading...
UK shoppers seek deals as grocery price inflation rises again
Supermarkets use special offers to draw in sales, while more people buy Halloween products early this year Business live – latest updates UK grocery price inflation has edged up again as shoppers lean on special offers to keep their costs in check, new figures show. Supermarket prices were 2.5% higher than last year in the four weeks to 4 October, up from 2.3% last month, data from Worldpanel by Numerator shows. Continue reading...
Andy Burnham will take Britain back into European Union, Neil Kinnock claims – UK politics live
Former Labour leader says he believes the prime minister has an ‘authentic commitment’ to taking the UK back into the EU Andy Burnham promises ‘serious dialogue’ over UK’s relationship with EU Good morning. In his long statement to MPs yesterday, Andy Burnham was evasive when asked whether he wanted his planned renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU to result in a Labour-led government, after the next election, rejoining. In response to one question about this , Burnham told a Tory MP he was “getting way ahead of himself” with the question. But one well-placed observer is not being so coy. Neil Kinnock , the former Labour leader and one of three people Burnham has named as his political mentors , has given an interview to la Repubblica, the Italian newspaper. He told it that he believes Burnham does want to, and will, take the UK back into the EU. Yes, sure, sure, sure. His commitment is authentic. He really does understand from the grassroots up why restoring what I think of as normality in our continent is vital for every party economically, politically, culturally, all in security terms, and is able to articulate it in language that people can understand. So yeah, he is definitely. Andy’s not changed direction. He’s always been a committed pro-European. In the byelection, he rightly didn’t make a noise about it. That’s tomorrow’s debate. Simply because the byelection wasn’t about Europe. It was about winning Makerfield in order to enable him to become leader of the party. That’s all it was about. It’s common sense. It’s not left and right. Andy’s view of the engagement of the state is about what Winston Churchill did in the 1950s, and I don’t remember Churchill being thought of as on the left. Andy’s a socialist, but he’s a very common-sense socialist. He’s very rational. He’s cool, not just with his dark blue T-shirt, but in his thinking, and he’s advanced a hell of a lot in the last 10–12 years in terms of his understanding of the absolute importance of utility, of usefulness in politics. That’s what puts us, basically, he and I, on the same spot. Of course he’s on the left. I’m on the left. We’re socialists, but we are prompted by the usefulness of the application of ideas. Continue reading...
Two ships hit by drones of unknown origin off Bulgarian coast – Europe live
Rescue operations underway after one vessel damaged and another sunk in the Black Sea Drones of unknown origin struck two ships in the Black Sea off Bulgaria this morning, sinking one and prompting emergency rescue operations, the country’s prime minister Rumen Radev said. Only one person was rescued from the sunken vessel, and 15 people were picked up from the other one. “ This is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast. Putting the lives of the crew in grave danger and threatening security in the Black Sea. We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift response. Those responsible should be held accountable.” Continue reading...
Second wave of early prison releases under way in England and Wales
About 2,000 criminals are being freed this month to ease overcrowding, while probation union moves towards strike The second wave of early prison releases takes place throughout Tuesday, with hundreds of offenders walking out across England and Wales under the government’s controversial plan to ease overcrowding. About 2,000 criminals, including domestic abusers and violent offenders, are being freed this month, with another 3,000 to follow in stages over the next year. The total was reduced from 6,000 after an intervention by Andy Burnham . Continue reading...
The return of the prodigal son? Why speculation is rising over Josh Frydenberg’s future
The spectre of a leadership alternative is hardly helpful for Angus Taylor. But would Frydenberg do a better job? A reasonable query for Liberals at this point is: if Josh Frydenberg is the answer, what is the question? There was a whiff of weariness in some corners of parliament this week, as the former treasurer and deputy Liberal leader happily stoked another round of “Josh for Canberra” speculation. With more rumoured comebacks than Oasis , Frydenberg’s latest foray into the national political arena saw him bouncing around TV, radio and podcast interviews to promote his new book, and pointedly refuse to rule out trying to rejoin the parliament. Continue reading...
Man and woman charged after baby boy found dead in Adelaide motel
South Australia police say infant was aged between six and seven months old and had been ‘deceased for a period of time’ A man and a woman have been charged after a baby boy was found dead in a motel. Benjamin Nicholas Houghton, 40, and Yue Ning Lieu, 42, are in custody after police discovered the child during a welfare check at a Glen Osmond motel in Adelaide’s south on Saturday. Continue reading...
One thing must now be clear to Andy Burnham. The rightwing press is on a war footing – and he’s the enemy | Jane Martinson
Farage was its champion, now it’s Badenoch – and the aim is the PM’s defeat at all costs While the merits of a so-called Britannia shield to protect Britain from missiles and drones are debatable, the Conservatives’ proposal did achieve one thing last week: the very idea of the shield was used to anoint a political leader. In a significant development, little observed amid the hullaballoo of news events, Kemi Badenoch’s uncosted, pie-in-the-sky plans to build a £10bn anti-missile system were enthusiastically heralded by the rightwing press. It was not just a matter of the plans themselves being lauded, even by outlets that must know them to be ridiculous. More significant is what it said about the champion chosen by these media organisations in their offensive against the Labour government and Andy Burnham. Jane Martinson is an academic and Guardian columnist. She is a board member of the Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian Media Group, and writes in a personal capacity Continue reading...
Latin American organised crime ‘may operate in 16 European countries’
Cocaine seizures in Europe are up more than fivefold in 10 years as a host of cartels take root. A four-month Guardian investigation reveals the true scale of a continent-wide shift A four-month investigation by the Guardian has revealed that the surge in cocaine trafficking to Europe is directly linked to the expanding presence of Latin American criminal networks in Europe, where they have forged close ties with local mafia organisations. The investigation, utilising databases, police and intelligence agencies, along with interviews with judges, prosecutors and experts from eight countries, shows that cartels and factions from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and the US are active in at least 12 European countries. Between 2014 and 2024, there was a 471% rise in the quantity of cocaine seized and more local laboratories processing cocaine derivatives were dismantled. Continue reading...
Bacon, eggs and Bowie: how year 12 English students tackled ‘human strength and vulnerability’ in HSC paper
Tens of thousands of high school students across New South Wales sit the first test of their final exams Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast “How does the composer of your prescribed text offer you opportunities to examine assumptions about human strength and vulnerability?” This was the bamboozling English question tens of thousands of year 12 students sat down to answer on the first day of their final school exams. Continue reading...
Healey should ‘stay the course’ and repair UK finances, says top IMF economist
Fund upgrades UK’s GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 1.3%, but says it is likely to ‘edge down’ next year IMF warns global economy ‘could soon test the limits of resilience’ John Healey should “stay the course” and continue repairing the UK’s public finances, the International Monetary Fund’s top economist has said, after the fund lifted its growth forecast for Britain. Little more than a fortnight before Healey’s first budget, Silvana Tenreyro, the IMF’s economic counsellor, said the UK “stands out” among G7 countries in having a plan to narrow its deficit. Continue reading...
Shock, anger and a crackdown: why a contentious electoral revision has sparked outrage
Marches in Delhi against changes to voting registration led to dragnets, internet blackouts – and questions about India’s electoral independence. Plus, the cinematographer capturing the beauty of the mundane Months of simmering public anger have given rise to a season of discontent in India. In its latest iteration, the demand is for the removal of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of a controversial electoral rolls revision that has struck 130 million people off the register. Protests have erupted every day over the past week, prompting a violent crackdown on dissenters in the capital. Over the weekend, Delhi was effectively under lockdown , transformed into a militarised landscape of barricades, road closures and paramilitary forces marching through the streets. Ahead of a protest led by the Cockroach Janta party on Saturday, authorities deployed a massive dragnet : 245 trains to Delhi were cancelled, 45 metro stations were shut, liquor shops were closed, internet services were cut off in the heart of the city and activists were put under house arrest. Continue reading...