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Is Burnham trying to appease Trump? Or Reform? What other reason is there for these North Sea oil plans? | George Monbiot
Climate catastrophe is on our doorstep – yet Labour’s impending approval of further drilling will bring more pain for negligible gains Pinch yourself, it’s happening again. Here is a Labour government spending a vast amount of political capital to earn tiny material gains while risking huge political losses. It occurred repeatedly under Keir Starmer, and now – with the impending decision to approve further gas and oil drilling in the North Sea – it is happening under Andy Burnham. You rack your brains to explain it, but no rational explanation comes. Burnham is studiously cryptic about his reasons. His clearest statement to date goes as follows: “There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that.” Does he mean that oil and gas workers are struggling? If so, this decision will be of little use to them. The Jackdaw gasfield, likely to be approved this week, will generate a grand total of 27 direct full-time jobs . The Rosebank oilfield, whose approval is likely to follow soon, will support 450 UK-based jobs during its lifetime. Yet the UK’s net zero economy directly employs 300,000 people , and a further 400,000 jobs are planned. The rest of the green economy employs more than 600,000 . A just transition for fossil fuel workers, securing jobs in the green economy, is better for everyone. George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
‘Institutional neglect’: 25 years on from 9/11, experts sound alarm over US counter-terror efforts
Budget cuts, loss of knowledgeable officials and diverted resources raise risk of another attack, experts warn The US faces growing challenges in countering international terrorism as resources are diverted to other threats, experienced security officials leave and “complacency” spreads, experts have warned. It is 25 years this week since the 9/11 attacks launched by Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida on New York and Washington, which killed about 3,000 people and led to decades of conflict, radicalisation and instability across the Middle East and beyond. Continue reading...
Seahawks pick off Patriots’ Maye three times to stage comeback in Super Bowl rematch
Backup quarterback engineers late Seattle rally Seahawks intercept Drake Maye three times in fourth Sam Darnold exits opening drive with hip injury Backup quarterback Drew Lock led two late scoring drives and the Seattle Seahawks intercepted Drake Maye three times in the fourth quarter to overcome an early injury to starter Sam Darnold and beat the New England Patriots 13-10 on Wednesday night in a Super Bowl rematch. The Seahawks were held to just a field goal through three quarters as Lock and the offense struggled to move the ball after Darnold injured his hip on the opening drive. Continue reading...
John Major’s rise from obscure whip to PM part of new National Theatre season
Play is one of eight world premieres in programme with global conflict and political upheaval at its heart A new play about John Major’s rise to power, written by James Graham, will premiere at the National Theatre in London next year, as part of a season that puts political upheaval and global conflict at the heart of its programme. Major reunites Graham with Jeremy Herrin, the director behind the acclaimed parliamentary drama This House. It will chart Major’s emergence from relatively obscure whip to prime minister, taking over from Margaret Thatcher at a pivotal moment in Britain’s relationship with Europe. Continue reading...
Enact Trew’s law to automatically review ‘bent copper’ convictions, says report
Experts say failure to immediately review cases involving corrupt police officers risks ‘ruining’ more lives Convictions that imprisoned police officers were involved in obtaining should be automatically reviewed to correct miscarriages of justice such as those perpetrated by the corrupt and racist officer DS Derek Ridgewell , a report says. The proposed Trew’s law, named after Winston Trew – who was framed by Ridgewell and spent decades fighting to clear his name – would trigger an immediate, independent review of past cases linked to any jailed officer in England and Wales. Continue reading...
H.Res. 1528: Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support for the designation of September, 2026, as “National Suicide Prevention Month” as well as September 10, 2026, as “World Suicide Prevention Day”.
Bill Text: This resolution's text is now available.
H.Res. 1521: Honoring the 100th anniversary of the American Cleaning Institute and recognizing the contributions of the cleaning products industry to the health, safety, and economic vitality of the United States.
Bill Text: This resolution's text is now available.
H.R. 10329: Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act of 2026
Bill Text: This bill's text is now available.
H.R. 10328: Badge-to-Business Act
Bill Text: This bill's text is now available.
H.R. 10343: CLEAR Feedback Act
Bill Text: This bill's text is now available.
H.R. 10331: Patient Navigation Assistance Act
Bill Text: This bill's text is now available.
S. 1051: Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act
Bill Text: This bill's text for status (Sept. 10, 2026) is now available.
H.R. 2317: Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2026
Bill Text: This bill's text for status (Sept. 10, 2026) is now available.
S. 1377: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act
Bill Text: This bill's text for status (Sept. 10, 2026) is now available.
H.R. 9394: Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026
Bill Text: This bill's text for status (Sept. 10, 2026) is now available.
H.R. 9327: PEARL Act
Bill Text: This bill's text for status (Sept. 10, 2026) is now available.
H.R. 4931: National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act
Bill Text: This bill's text for status (Sept. 10, 2026) is now available.
US citizens will receive $5,000 if Republicans win midterms, Trump claims in lengthy convention speech
In two-hour address, president asked voters to ‘pretend that I’m on the ballot’ despite being deeply unpopular among electorate Donald Trump said every adult citizen in the US will receive a dividend of $5,000 if Republicans retain the House and Senate in the midterm elections, while delivering a historically long convention speech in Dallas in which the president assailed Democrats as radical communists and defended his unpopular war in Iran. “If the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump told the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, claiming the payment was possible “because of our tremendous strength and success economically”. Continue reading...
Deadly Philippines ferry fire leaves scores of people missing
Forty-three people rescued and early death toll stands at five after blaze aboard MV June Aster in waters off Coron, Palawan, says coast guard Five people were confirmed dead in early counting and more than 80 were missing after a ferry caught fire off Palawan island in the western Philippines on Wednesday night, the Philippine coast guard said. Forty-three people were rescued from the MV June Aster in waters off Coron, Palawan, the coast guard said. Footage showed flames engulfing parts of the vessel and responders placing victims in body bags. Continue reading...
Instagram boss says users will be ‘overwhelmed’ with brand content in algorithm-free world
Adam Mosseri says platform’s algorithm ‘feels like a black box’ but company trying to give users more control after Labor announces opt-out plan Instagram’s chief executive has said users will have a worse experience in an algorithm-free world, seeing more brand-related content, and spend less time on the app. The comments come as the Australian government plans to give users the option to opt out of algorithms , with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announcing plans on Tuesday to require social media platforms to prompt users to choose between a feed of algorithm-recommended content or a reverse chronological feed of the pages users follow. Labor also plans to introduce a range of measures designed to address online harm on the sites. Continue reading...
SMH columnist Peter FitzSimons tells Alan Jones trial alleged victim was ‘revolted’ by abuse
FitzSimons tells court that complainant C told him Jones, who has pleaded not guilty, would touch his penis and he ‘kept pushing it away’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons has told the Alan Jones trial an alleged victim he spoke to in 2019 was “tearful” and sounded “emotionally traumatised” when detailing alleged assaults by the 2GB broadcaster. The commentator and author gave evidence in the Downing Centre local court on Thursday about a telephone call he had with the alleged victim known as complainant C in October 2019. Continue reading...
Jacqui Lambie says Pauline Hanson a ‘bloody coward’ after One Nation cartoon calling Andrew Hastie a traitor
Lambie, a veteran and Tasmanian senator, says One Nation leader is showing her ‘true colours’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Jacqui Lambie has accused Pauline Hanson of being a “coward” for a One Nation cartoon calling the Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie a traitor, amid a growing spat between the One Nation leader and the former SAS captain. Lambie, a veteran and Tasmanian senator, defended Hastie on Thursday, after he called on Hanson to take ownership for a One Nation animated cartoon on social media in which he is repeatedly described as a traitor for giving evidence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith in his failed defamation case. Continue reading...
Coco Gauff draws on Tiafoe and ‘delusional’ self-belief in US Open escape
American rallies from brink to defeat Andreeva Gauff survives 12 double faults in three-set escape Coco Gauff has played far cleaner matches than on Wednesday afternoon. But few players today on the women’s tour have become better at finding answers on the fly when almost nothing is working for them. The 22-year-old American’s serene march through the US Open women’s draw hit extreme turbulence early in her quarter-final clash with fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. She dropped the first four games before surrendering the opening set in 26 minutes, ending a streak of 20 consecutive sets won dating back nearly a month. She piled up 12 double faults and 42 unforced errors, the majority off a forehand in open revolt. She found herself one point from defeat not once but twice during a hairy second-set tiebreaker. Continue reading...
Rubio says US will work with allies to stop drug-trafficking as three killed in latest boat strike
Rubio visits Ecuador and welcomes cooperation after campaign of unilateral strikes on alleged ‘narco-terrorists’ US secretary of state Marco Rubio gave new clarity on the approach toward combating drug trafficking in Latin American waters, saying the Trump administration was focused on working with allied countries and aligning with their laws but insisting the military will “still blow up ships if need be.” The public acknowledgment of a shift in US strategy comes a year after Washington began a campaign of unilateral deadly strikes against those it calls “narco-terrorists” operating boats in international waters. Continue reading...