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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan dies after being ill with prostate cancer
Murnaghan ‘died peacefully’ at his home in London on Saturday, says his family The TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan “died peacefully” at his home in north London on Saturday morning “following a period of illness with prostate cancer”, his family said in a statement. More details to follow … Continue reading...
Datacentres drive up carbon emissions of Microsoft, Amazon and Google to a third of those of France
All three companies say they still aim to achieve net zero carbon output despite construction boom Microsoft, Amazon and Google’s collective carbon emissions have increased by nearly a fifth in the past year, driven largely by datacentre construction. In the financial year ending March 2026, the three tech companies emitted 119m mTCO₂e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), or about a third of those of France. Continue reading...
Six-hour polygraphs, forced reassignments: inside homeland security’s campaign of fear
The ruthless gutting and reforming of the Department of Homeland Security has traumatized both workers and the most vulnerable immigrants Federal officials tasked with implementing the Trump administration ’s “mass deportation” program faced an extraordinary campaign of intimidation inside the Department of Homeland Security during the final months of Kristi Noem ’s tenure and the arrival of her successor, a Guardian investigation found. Over the past four months, the Guardian spoke with more than three dozen current and former Department of Homeland Security officials who described a climate of fear driven by Trump loyalists in senior positions, who sidelined or removed career officials who raised concerns about possibly illegal acts, and threatened termination or arrest in order to stop dissent. Several have also claimed they were subjected to polygraph examinations conducted by US military personnel. Continue reading...
AI ‘actor’ Tilly Norwood has a movie coming out. Spare us this future | Dave Schilling
Acting is about human connection across cultural and social divides. But we can’t expect much of that in the ‘Tillyverse’ Rejoice, cinema lovers. Tilly Norwood is back! Not familiar? I don’t blame you, as she’s not exactly a household name yet – though a fleet of well-fed publicists is certainly trying to rectify that. Tilly Norwood is an “AI actor”, as in, an actor that’s not actually an actor at all. Just a series of digital blobs and lines of code designed to resemble a young woman in the lucrative 18-to-49-year-old target demographic. Thus far, Tilly has lived exclusively in easily digestible social media clips and hyperbolic press releases about the “future of entertainment”. But now, “she” (I feel like a complete buffoon for assigning a gender to a computer program) is finally ready for the world of feature films. The company Particle6, which spat out this risible creation, announced that it has commenced development on a motion picture starring this very elaborate and expensive cartoon avatar. The film, titled Misaligned, will see Tilly seduced by a rogue program into experimenting with human emotions – “desires, impulses, and ambition”, as described by Variety . The company claims that the film will be a “coming-of-age story infused with existential AI chaos”. I can’t help but wonder what resonance a “coming-of-age story” can have if the protagonist is a computer program that doesn’t understand the concept of time, ageing or mortality. Does Tilly Norwood understand the concept of a 24-hour day? Does “she” know the glorious warmth of a mid-afternoon sun? Has “she” ever forgotten to move her car because it’s street cleaning day on her block? Tilly Norwood, being an animated sprite, is neither “coming” nor “of age”. But then again, isn’t acting all about accessing experiences you’ve never had? Dave Schilling is a Los Angeles-based writer and humorist Continue reading...
Levi Bellfield to have DNA test in connection with Lin and Megan Russell murders
Exclusive: CCRC will test serial killer as part of inquiry into whether Michael Stone was wrongly convicted of 1996 murders The serial killer Levi Bellfield will have his DNA taken in an attempt to establish if he murdered Lin and Megan Russell in 1996. Michael Stone has protested his innocence since his conviction in 1998 for the killing of Lin, 45, and her daughter, six-year-old Megan, as well as a vicious attack on Megan’s sister Josie, nine, who survived. Continue reading...
NHS anaesthetist shortage prevents 1.5m operations a year, report finds
Exclusive: Alarming shortfall of specialists stops about 4,000 procedures a day, many for patients in urgent need of surgery The NHS is unable to perform 1.5m operations a year because of a drastic shortage of anaesthetists, a report reveals. More than 8 million patients are on waiting lists across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many are in urgent need of a surgical procedure. Continue reading...
Mitch McConnell mystery deepens as health questions remain unanswered
Senator’s office has released only sparse details about hospital stay, leaving fevered speculation to fill vacuum Mystery surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell’s health is deepening as the US Congress prepares to return from recess next week. McConnell, 84, has not been seen in public since he was admitted to hospital in the Washington area on 14 June. Nearly a month later, the Kentucky Republican’s office has released only sparse updates, saying he is “continuing to improve” and remains engaged with Senate business, while refusing to disclose the nature of his illness or explain why he remains hospitalised. Continue reading...
‘It’s Wizard of Oz stuff’: Clacton voters divided over Farage byelection
Voters’ views range from adulation to scepticism to outright cynicism over contest triggered by sitting MP As Nigel Farage inflicts an August byelection on the Clacton constituency in Essex, local voters are divided over whether they need, or want, to give the Reform UK leader a fresh mandate. In this self-styled battle between the “establishment and the people” views range from adulatory to sceptical to outright cynical over a contest that all mainstream parties are boycotting, leaving Count Binface and Laurence Fox as Farage’s only potential rivals. Continue reading...
Alfred Dreyfus statue to finally receive permanent home in central Paris
Sculpture of Jewish army officer wrongly accused of treason has been moved around the city for decades For 40 years, the statue of Capt Alfred Dreyfus has been moved around Paris, never finding a permanent home. The French army twice refused to allow it to stand at l’École Militaire, where Dreyfus, a Jewish officer it had wrongly accused of treason in 1894, was stripped of his rank in one of the most notorious acts of antisemitism in France’s history. Continue reading...
‘Like a sauna’: London tube travellers swelter in temperatures higher than legal limit for cattle
The tube cannot easily be adapted to cope with heatwaves, making conditions almost unbearable As the escalator descends below ground at King’s Cross St Pancras station in London, the shift from what was already a hot station entrance to the furnace-like subterranean depths is perceptible. On the tube it’s worse: a man leans back in his seat, eyes closed, sweltering; people hold electric fans an inch away from their faces. London commuters are known for their stoicism and the heat appears to be another tribulation to accept. They will need to: heatwaves in the capital are becoming routine. Continue reading...
‘Politicians have always been schemers’: upheld conviction fails to dent Le Pen’s popularity
Presidential bid by leader of far-right National Rally has no shortage of supporters in scenic Montargis In the small French town of Montargis, Jean-Antoine, a retired decorator, was pleased Marine Le Pen had again shaken up French politics by launching a bid for the presidency , despite her legal woes. “Even the judges said she didn’t personally profit from the money, it was for her party,” he said of Le Pen’s newly upheld conviction for embezzlement . “All politicians in France have always been schemers, it’s just a fact of life.” Continue reading...
Ann Widdecombe investigation: police release man arrested on suspicion of former MP’s murder – latest updates
Officers are carrying out ‘numerous inquiries’ but 26-year-old, arrested on Friday afternoon, is no longer part of the investigation A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering the former MP Ann Widdecombe has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation, Devon and Cornwall police said early on Saturday. In a statement, the force’s assistant chief constable, Matt Longman, said: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined. Continue reading...
World Cup 2026: Spain v Belgium reaction, Norway v England quarter-final buildup and more – live
⚽ All the latest updates as the quarter-finals continue ⚽ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email us Let’s start with Spain’s 2-1 win over Belgium. Sid Lowe was in Los Angeles as Mikel Merino popped up with another late winner. One of France, Spain, England, Norway, Argentina or Switzerland will win the World Cup. Did anyone predict that when this tournament started (counts on fingers but gives up) many moons ago? That seems quite exciting for the half-dozen teams left in when it’s written down like that and this time tomorrow six will have been whittled down to four. Blimey. The action starts tonight with the much-awaited showdown between Harry Kane’s England and Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami before holders Argentina take on Switzerland in Kansas City. Build-up to those games and reaction to last night’s victory for Spain over Belgium starts right here. It’s fair to say we’re firmly at the business end. Let’s go! Continue reading...
The ad machine: how David Beckham conquered America
The former England midfielder is everywhere at this World Cup, having reached a popularity in the US other Britons have rarely achieved Watch US television for any length of time and the endless spume of adverts will eventually separate into three distinct types. The first are adverts for units of generic food-substance, each one essentially the same hand-sized grenade of glossy and salted microminced matter; but each also with its own industrialised repertoire of colours and noise and packaging required to dress it as a distinct genre of actual human food. Try the delicious new Flame Sauced Philly Cheese Taco Wing Waffle Dog Deep Dish MegaDeath Burger Grenade-Shaped Eat Thing. You won’t be disappointed. Or you will be. Whatever. Continue reading...
World Cup quarter-final expected to generate £500m sales boost for UK economy
As England prepare to take on Norway on Saturday, sales of pints, takeaways and new TVs continue to surge From a cosy Norwegian pub to outdoor fan zones packed with hopeful England football fans, Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final between the two nations is expected to generate a multimillion-pound windfall for venues showing the game. The quarter-finals will collectively generate a near half-billion pound sales increase for the wider UK economy, as fans drink 9.3m pints, order takeaways and splash out on new TVs, according to one estimate. Continue reading...
John Humphrys criticises successors on ‘irritating’ Today programme
Ex-presenter of BBC Radio 4 show complains in Guardian of ‘gratuitous gratitude’ and ‘gushing’ between host and guest For more than three decades, John Humphrys delighted and infuriated listeners in equal measure as he confronted the nation’s politicians in his trademark, pointed style on the Today programme. Now a listener himself, the former presenter of the BBC’s flagship radio news show is just as pointed in his assessment of the current incarnation of the programme. His verdict? It’s irritating. Continue reading...
The World Cup has upended the old world order – and despite Trump and Infantino, it still inspires | Simon Tisdall
Even White House interference and Fifa’s greed cannot spoil the celebrations. At last, an arena in which multiculturalism triumphs and underdogs score Of all the outrageous things Donald Trump has done, from bombing other countries to appeasing dictators, his sneaky interference in last week’s USA v Belgium World Cup match sparked by far the most united and furious reaction across the world. Condemnation was all but universal. Trump’s cheating heart cannot understand the unmatched, ubiquitous power that the “beautiful game” exercises over ordinary lives everywhere. It massively surpasses his own. The world truly loves football. It doesn’t love him. And then USA lost the match anyway. Karma. This modern morality play joyously illuminated the limits of authoritarianism. In an age dominated by overbearing, illiberal economic and military powers, the men’s World Cup is upending the conventional geopolitical pecking order and power balances in refreshing and instructive ways. In this alternative universe, smaller nations – and ordinary people – can and often do get a bigger shout. Despite huge state investment in all aspects of the game, China again failed to qualify . Russia, never much good at football in the first place, was kicked out after invading Ukraine. And despite all Trump’s Maga hooliganism, the US remains soccer small fry. So much for superpowers. Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator Continue reading...
Labour MPs call for Andy Burnham to restore aid spending target set by Brown
Thinktank urges prospective prime minister to reclaim UK’s role as an international leader on development Influential backbenchers are calling on Andy Burnham to reclaim Labour’s leadership on international development and chart a course back to spending 0.7% of national income on overseas aid. In a collection of essays to be published soon by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) thinktank, MPs lay out proposals for a Burnham-led government to rethink foreign policy. Continue reading...
‘Children were calling for their mummies’: UK pupils struggle in 40C-plus classrooms
Teachers call for schools to be urgently adapted for hot weather amid reports of nausea, fainting and heatstroke The extreme heat that has hit the UK twice in the past few weeks has left teachers struggling to cope as temperatures in some classrooms climb above 40C, with pupils and staff suffering from heatstroke, nausea and headaches. Teachers say they have been desperately trying to keep children safe, with some covering younger pupils in wet paper towels as they lie on the floor, while older students have been given trays of water under their desks to put their feet in. Continue reading...
Pianist Jayson Gillham ‘very disappointed’ after losing Melbourne Symphony Orchestra discrimination case
The federal court on Friday threw out the concert pianist’s case against the MSO, finding he was not unfairly dismissed due to Gaza war comments Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The concert pianist at the centre of a high-profile unfair dismissal case has revealed his deep disappointment with his courtroom defeat. Federal court justice Graeme Hill on Friday threw out Jayson Lloyd Gillham’s case against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, finding he was not unfairly dismissed. Continue reading...
Man arrested on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe’s murder is released
The 26-year-old man is no longer part of the investigation, Devon and Cornwall police say A 26-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of the former MP Ann Widdecombe has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation, Devon and Cornwall police said early on Saturday. In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined. Continue reading...
Losing our religion? Australia would no longer be majority religious if format of census question changed, survey finds
Ahead of the census in August, campaign group suggests current poll design overstates the nation’s religiousness Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Australia would no longer be a majority religious country if the format of a question in the census was changed, according to a new survey. The Essential Media poll tested the existing census format, where people choose from a list that includes the most common religions, “no religion” and “other”. Continue reading...
‘He goes a bit funny if you use his real name’: the unstoppable rise of Count Binface
Nigel Farage foresaw a summer stroll to glory when he forced a byelection – but now risks his career being trashed The votes were being counted and the media had gathered for the moment that Andy Burnham, his sights on Downing Street, would be elected as the MP for Makerfield in greater Manchester. But Nick the Flying Brick, a candidate on numerous occasions for the Monster Raving Loony party, could not help but be distracted. How could it be that the candidate across the Edge Conference Centre with a silver bin on his head had managed to secure the 10 local nominations necessary to stand? The Flying Brick, real name Nick Delves, 60, who is also treasurer for the Loony party, had knocked doors-a-plenty to get the nominations for his veteran candidate, Howling Laud Hope. Yet, the Flying Brick hadn’t seen any chaps on the streets with bins on their heads. Certainly not in recent days. Not a single one. Continue reading...
Ryanair has axed its family seating policy – but kids’ fees still add up
The airfare for a baby on your lap could cost more than your own ticket. Here’s how airline charges and travel taxes can hit you Ryanair recently stopped making parents pay to sit next to their children but depending on the airline the hidden extra costs involved in flying with children can be substantial. In some cases, you can even end up spending more for the baby on your lap than you paid for your own flight. Your baby might not need a seat, but you are still likely to pay fees for them to travel. Some airlines offer discounts for children over two, while others whack families with the cost of a full-grown adult. Continue reading...