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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Bondi shooting hero Ahmed al Ahmed cleared of assault charges
Ahmed, who maintains his innocence, was accused of putting his father in a headlock in March The man who disarmed one of the gunmen allegedly responsible for the Bondi Beach massacre has had an assault case against him tossed out. Ahmed al Ahmed, 44, had been accused of putting his father in a headlock on 9 March and intimidation over an alleged incident in June. Continue reading...
Passenger jet billed as China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus prepares to make first international flight
The Comac C919 will fly from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, although experts say it could take generations for it to challenge the west’s dominance of the industry China hopes to break into the world of commercial aviation with the first international flight of a Chinese-made passenger jet scheduled for Wednesday. The Comac C919 will take off from Beijing capital international airport at 3pm, landing in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, just over two hours later. Continue reading...
Could Clacton bin off Nigel Farage? – podcast
Farage has taken a high risk gamble by resigning and forcing a byelection in his constituency. Nosheen Iqbal heads to Clacton to find out how voters feel Clacton was once a seaside jewel on England’s east coast. But these days there’s another story that’s told about this town. Clacton is one of the poorest, oldest and whitest places in the UK. People here have a life expectancy that is 18 years lower than those living in wealthier parts of Essex. Almost half the working-age population doesn’t have a job; one in five has never had one. It’s here, in 2024, that Nigel Farage finally won a seat in parliament, eighth time lucky. And it’s here, where he’s forcing his ninth go. Farage says he’s protesting against the scrutiny into his financial affairs – and that the people of Clacton should decide whether he’s still fit to serve. The other main parties are boycotting the contest – and so, instead, Farage is going up against a record-breaking 33 candidates. The ballot paper is three feet long. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to voters to find out how they feel about a byelection that is beginning to feel like a punchline. Continue reading...
Thailand suspends gun licences as teen shooter and grandparents he killed are cremated
Prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul calls for tighter gun controls and ‘decisive penalties’ after nine dead in school shooting Thailand has suspended firearms licences after last week’s deadly school shooting , as the bodies of the teenage attacker and the grandparents he killed were cremated. The prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said he had ordered the interior ministry and police to stop issuing licenses to possess, purchase and carry firearms, and called for “tighter controls and decisive penalties”. Continue reading...
A ‘body’ found in a suitcase was actually a sex doll. How did NSW police get it so wrong?
Officers may not have fully unzipped the bag containing the sex doll to avoid destroying evidence, one expert says Revelations that a “body” found inside a suitcase was actually a lifelike doll may have been embarrassing for police, but experts say officers followed the correct procedure. New South Wales police on Sunday were called to Oallen, a town near Goulburn, after two members of the public found a suitcase containing what they believed to be human remains, dumped on the side of the road. Continue reading...
CBS Sports chief says ‘no timetable’ on Tony Romo’s future after OWI arrest
Analyst on indefinite leave after Wisconsin arrest CBS Sports president says network ‘still assessing’ JJ Watt to join Jim Nantz on lead broadcast team CBS Sports president David Berson said Tuesday he does not have a timeline for a decision about Tony Romo’s future. Romo, the network’s lead NFL analyst, is on leave following his arrest last month in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Continue reading...
Senator Darline Graham advances to runoff in South Carolina Republican primary
Lindsey Graham’s sister, appointed to replace him, held a narrow lead in the special Senate primary Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Senator Darline Graham, appointed to complete the Senate term of her late brother, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has advanced to a runoff election for the Republican nomination of the seat. It remains unclear who she will face on 25 August. Graham held a narrow lead in the polls going into the abbreviated special primary on Tuesday, which predicted a close contest for second place. Congressman Russell Fry, Congressman Ralph Norman and former governor Mark Sanford polled within a point of each other in the most recent survey from the Trafalgar Group. Graham has loudly trumpeted her endorsement from Donald Trump , but also enjoys the support of South Carolina’s governor, Henry McMaster, and John Thune, the Senate majority leader. Continue reading...
Cook Islands election: PM Mark Brown speaks on the diplomatic crises that defined his year
The prime minister tells the Guardian that last year’s diplomatic rift with ally New Zealand could be on voters’ minds as they head to the polls As voters in the Cook Islands prepare to head to the polls in a high-stakes general election, they will have much to reflect on. Over recent years, politics in this small island nation has been defined by fierce debates about deep-sea mining , diplomatic rifts with ally New Zealand and a major reshaping of the country’s foreign partnerships. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, days before Wednesday’s poll, Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown defended his four-year term and the decisions he made that have seen this South Pacific nation of 17,000 people pushed into the international limelight, turning it into a battleground for influence between Beijing and western powers . Continue reading...
ICE to spend up to $20m on gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks
According to manufacturer, shock ‘is usually effective in bringing individuals into compliance in less than three seconds’ ICE plans to spend up to $20m (£15m) to purchase thousands of gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks for officers and agents by March, according to a notice published Monday by the Department of Homeland Security. The devices, called Glove (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC of Lexington, Kentucky. Continue reading...
Male redback spiders invite cannibalism through a ‘self-sacrificial somersault’ during sex – but why?
New research sheds light on the genetic basis of the venomous insect’s ‘weird mating behaviour’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast If you think you’ve had a bad one-night stand, spare a thought for the male redback spider, whose sole reproductive partner eats him after sex. Male redbacks appear to invite this cannibalism through a “self-sacrificial somersault”, with new research shedding light on the genetic basis of the behaviour. Continue reading...
Trump’s Air Force One deception faces scrutiny over ‘decoy’ passengers
Journalists and others were allowed to fly on presidential jet despite security threat while Trump was spirited away Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Democrats called on Tuesday for a congressional briefing over a stunning charade in which Donald Trump was secretly spirited to different plane than the one the public and press believed he was travelling on, an episode first reported by the Washington Post and also by the New York Times. Critics now question why reporters and the public had been deliberately misled. When US intelligence allegedly found a credible threat that Iran plotted to kill him last month, Trump left Air Force One in a catering truck. While the president was reportedly snuck out the side door of the plane, more than a hundred aides, officials and reporters, were kept onboard to fly towards Britain, without being told there was a threat to their lives. Continue reading...
Dethroned Miss North Carolina USA threatens legal action over title removal
Brittany Boltinhouse’s attorney says removal of title and crown ‘another troubling example of cancel culture’ A lawyer for beauty queen Brittany Boltinhouse, dethroned as Miss North Carolina USA last week, is threatening legal action, claiming the actions of pageant organizers were “wrongful and unjustified”. The attorney, Patrick Mincey, described the removal of her title and crown “another troubling example of cancel culture”. Continue reading...
Judge blocks Trump’s order preventing USPS from restricting mail-in voting
Ruling expands on earlier order that prevented implementation in 23 mostly Democratic-led states\ Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the US Postal Service (USPS) from implementing part of Donald Trump’s executive order that aims to tighten rules for mail-in voting ahead of November midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. The ruling by US district judge Indira Talwani in Boston effectively expanded on an earlier order she had issued in June that had prevented Trump’s administration from implementing it in 23 mostly Democratic-led states. Continue reading...
Australia politics live: Bragg to outline Coalition plans to heavily cut net migration and shred 96% of house construction code
Policy comes as debate continues over causes of and solutions to housing issues. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Are the Coalition 100% set on cutting net overseas migration to 180,000? Despite Andrew Bragg’s speech being sent to the media overnight, this morning the shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson , doesn’t seem to want to lock in the 180,000 net overseas migration target. I don’t think you should bank that at all. Let’s just wait and see, firstly, what Senate Bragg’s saying in his speech and we haven’t made an announcement about where we’re going to be going into the next election, but our focus is actually about what we need to do to invest in the long-term growth and success of our country. A NOM reduction on this scale is manageable and in line with reductions we have managed in recent history – for example in 2009-2010 when the NOM declined from 300,000 to 175,000 in around 18 months. This will be achieved through a higher share of skilled migrant workers linked to jobs that meet Australian industry needs. This includes more reductions in other streams like family, international students and other temporary migrants. Continue reading...
ACLU asks judge to block new Trump order restricting birthright citizenship
Group says new executive order is attempt to evade supreme court’s earlier ruling against the president US politics live – latest updates The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups have asked a federal judge to block Donald Trump from enforcing new executive orders he signed last week in his latest attempt to restrict eligibility for birthright citizenship in the US. In a Tuesday court filing, the groups called the US president’s new orders an improper attempt to evade the US supreme court’s 30 June rejection of his first, more sweeping bid to deny automatic citizenship to children born to undocumented immigrants and temporary foreign residents. Continue reading...
Portland Thorns and USWNT star Olivia Moultrie out for season with ACL injury
20-year-old injured right knee during Thorns training Midfielder had five goals and five assists this season Moultrie likely to miss Concacaf W Championship Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie has been placed on the season-ending injury list because of an ACL injury, the National Women’s Soccer League team announced Tuesday. Moultrie, who also plays for the US national team, injured her right knee during training last week, the team said. Continue reading...
Buzzer-beaters and besties: the rivalries and friendships that make the WNBA
From Comets-Liberty and Lynx-Sparks to Wilson-Gray and the StudBudz, the feuds and friendships that have shaped 30 years of the WNBA Sign up to get WNBA 30 in your inbox every Tuesday It’s Rivals Week in the W, and it’s already given us so many spicy viral moments . But when I look at the matchups that headline the schedule, it made me think of all the different rivalries that have come and gone throughout the league’s 30 years – some rooted in half-court buzzer-beaters , others in baseline jumper buzzer-beaters . Moral of the story: if there’s a buzzer-beater involved, it’ll likely turn into a team rivalry. And while there are tense rivalries, there are also fierce friendships in this league. The ones that make you giggle to yourself when they wind up guarding each other during a game, or they show off a special celebration as teammates. Today, I want to highlight both – because both are what makes the W worth watching. Continue reading...
White House pushes DoJ to revive reflecting pool case against Olympian
Justice department is asked to weigh new charges against David Hearn after US attorney dropped vandalism charges The White House has asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to weigh new charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, according to a person familiar with the matter, pushing to revive a case Donald Trump has fumed about ever since an ally dropped the case citing insufficient evidence. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, dropped the charges against the man, David Hearn, on 31 July , blaming a contractor for a flawed installation. In a 20-page filing dismissing the charges, Pirro’s office said it had received evidence that damage to the pool occurred before Hearn visited it, and that “it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt.” Hearn has maintained that he reached in the water to touch a piece of already detached lining while he was on bike ride in June. Continue reading...
New York Jets’ Qwan’tez Stiggers in hospital after collapsing during practice
Cornerback loses consciousness during joint practice Team indicate 24-year-old is recovering well New York Jets cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers was taken to a hospital by ambulance after he briefly lost consciousness during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday. Jets coach Aaron Glenn said the 24-year-old Stiggers was conscious and talking on the field before being put on a stretcher and taken for further examination. There was no immediate word on Stiggers’ condition, but Glenn indicated the cornerback was recovering well. Continue reading...
Trump 'secretly switched planes via catering truck' amid Iran threat | Deconstructed – video
In July, Donald Trump hid in a catering truck and reportedly secretly switched planes in a security ruse prompted by a credible Iranian assassination threat. The Guardian breaks down the footage from that day, showing how the president reportedly boarded the old Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras, and then was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane via an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies preflight. Trump’s actual location was concealed from journalists and some White House staff, who thought they were traveling with Trump on the older plane Trump reportedly hid in catering container to board secret flight in Turkey amid Iran threat Continue reading...
Richard Tice accused of ‘nasty tactics’ over legal threat to the Guardian
Reform deputy leader condemned for seeking disclosure of documents that could reveal reporter’s sources Richard Tice has been accused of using “nasty tactics” in an attempt to intimidate journalists and deflect attention from his own financial affairs after issuing a legal threat to the Guardian. In a letter sent from his lawyers, a Guardian correspondent was singled out for her reporting on a series of Tice’s financial transactions that were referred to the National Crime Agency. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on AI money in US politics: not the way to hold an urgent democratic debate | Editorial
Amid public concern over the impact of new technology, Silicon Valley’s use of its wealth to influence specific election races is an unwelcome development As the huge societal ramifications of artificial intelligence have become clear, some of the tech industry’s most senior figures have taken to writing thinkpieces on what comes next. The latest to do so is Mark Zuckerberg, who this week published 6,500 words making the case for a laissez-faire approach to AI development. Worrying too much about regulation, Meta’s CEO unsurprisingly opines, could lead to the United States falling behind in the race to own the future. Mr Zuckerberg’s plea for maximum autonomy is, of course, self-serving. Much of his essay – which airily envisions “invention superpowers” for every entrepreneur and “an abundance of jobs in the future” – reads like unadulterated tech-utopianism. But the lobbying at least has the merit of being out there in the open. As midterm elections loom in the US, darker arts are also being used to counter popular concern about what AI will mean for a host of topics, from the labour market to child safety, the environment and cybersecurity. Continue reading...
How viable are plans to free up prison space in England and Wales?
The PM is proposing three ways of increasing jail capacity – but none offer a quick or straightforward solution Andy Burnham said on Monday he was “increasingly confident” that PC Andrew Harper’s killers would not be freed in the new year. Determined to ensure that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were jailed for 13 years in 2020 for manslaughter, serve their full sentences, he has asked the justice secretary, Alex Norris, to examine three options for increasing prison capacity. Continue reading...
The Office actor Lucy Davis says she has incurable stage four breast cancer
Star, 53, says disease has metastasised to her bones and it is too late for chemotherapy Lucy Davis, the actor best known for playing Dawn Tinsley in The Office, has said she has incurable stage four breast cancer. The 53-year-old said she was diagnosed a year and a half ago and the disease had metastasised to her bones including her spine, right hip and ribs. She said it was too late for chemotherapy. Continue reading...