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Politics
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Man jailed for keeping dead mother’s body in freezer and pocketing her benefits
Christopher Phillips, who had been his mother Sylvia’s primary carer since 2008, given two years and four months in prison A man has been jailed for keeping his dead mother’s body in a freezer at their shared home for almost three years, during which time he received more than £70,000 of her benefits and other funds. Christopher Phillips, 60, stored the body of Sylvia Phillips, a retired company secretary, in the chest freezer in the living room of their house in the south Wales seaside town of Porthcawl. Continue reading...
Radio presenter Tony Livesey leaves BBC after David Sullivan allegations
Staff at 5 Live told he will not return following claims about his previous career at Sullivan’s Sport newspapers The BBC radio presenter Tony Livesey has left the broadcaster after allegations were raised about his previous career as the editor-in-chief of David Sullivan’s Sport newspapers. Staff at 5 Live, where Livesey had most recently presented the 10pm to 1am show four days a week, were told he would not be returning to the station, having stepped away from the role after the allegations first emerged. Continue reading...
‘A reminder of why we have unions’: Matewan writer and director on the film’s lessons for the labor movement
John Sayles’s 1987 film, which dramatizes a 1920 labor conflict, shows how class solidarity can overcome prejudice When John Sayles, a student at Williams College taking time off from his summer factory job, was hitchhiking during the summer of 1970 in West Virginia, it was often coal miners who picked him off the main interstate highways. At the time, miners were amid the wake of a contentious union election within the United Mine Workers of America. Fierce tensions had led to the murder of union reform candidate Joseph Yablonski and his wife in December 1969. Continue reading...
Nolan’s Odyssey shows what happens when a leader’s violations are rewarded | Jamil Smith
The Greeks learn at Troy that breaking the rules works, then carry the lesson home. Nolan’s film shows how an exception becomes a habit of power This article contains spoilers for The Odyssey I had not read The Odyssey since I was a student. Stories change when we return to them later in life, or perhaps we are the ones who change. Christopher Nolan’s film made me want to find out what I had missed. More specifically, it made me want to read Emily Wilson’s translation. Her scathing essay about the film nearly stopped me from buying her translation. I bought the book anyway. Continue reading...
‘Just cruel’: Medicaid halt in California and Minnesota plunges caregivers and disabled people into uncertainty
Shock and fury as Trump administration holds back Medicaid funding to states over alleged caregiving fraud By now, when Shannon Rosa hears about cuts to Medicaid and misinformation from the Trump administration about disabled people and their families, her predominant feeling isn’t fear or sadness. It’s fury. Continue reading...
‘I want to be ripped to shreds’: writers flock to MFAs - but does it breed elitist literature?
Thousands of budding US novelists enlist in courses each year, hoping to gain credentials that often influence who gets published Thomas Pynchon was known to avoid the press and refuse interviews. There are only two official photographs of the Gravity’s Rainbow author available publicly – one taken at high school, the other during his time in the navy. He is the embodiment of the American image of a great writer: a mysterious recluse who works in a turret alone. These days, the writerly lone wolf is more a myth than it is a reality. Most of today’s celebrated authors are trained in the profession and their qualification is the MFA (master of fine arts). Percival Everett received his from Brown, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie studied at Johns Hopkins University, and Jhumpa Lahiri went to Boston. Great writers, now, are less rare animals discovered in the wild and more elite thoroughbreds, meticulously trained and set up for the race ahead. Continue reading...
Iran in talks with Oman over shipping route but not US, says Tehran
Iran discussing creation of temporary route through strait of Hormuz with its neighbour, says spokesperson Middle East crisis live – latest updates Iran has been in discussion with Oman about the creation of a new temporary route through the strait of Hormuz that would allow commercial shipping to resume, but is not yet reviving talks with the US, Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. Esmail Baghaei was responding to claims by Donald Trump that talks between the two sides covering all the major disputes between them could restart as early as Monday. Trump claimed he held off from launching the biggest strike on any country “since world war two” over the weekend after Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, rang him to urge diplomacy. Trump said the cancellation was conditional on Iran reaching a deal quickly. Continue reading...
Trump promises new Iran talks as Tehran touts Hormuz shipping deal with Oman | First Thing
US president says he called off another US attack on Iran as part of a push for an agreement. Plus why Pokémon Go is still bring global joy ten years on Good morning. Donald Trump said talks with Iran would happen on Monday but declined to set a deadline for an agreement after earlier saying he had called off an imminent attack. For its part, Iran said it was nearing a deal with Oman over a new route through the strait of Hormuz, and that it had no plans to receive a delegation or send an Iranian one to any talks. On Saturday night, the US president claimed on social media that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal that would lead to “the immediate, complete and total” reopening of the strait and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat”. Trump added that Tehran must “rapidly make a deal”. What has Iran said about the strait? The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, told state television on Sunday that a deal was close with Oman over a new route through the waterway. “We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides – neither the northern route nor the southern route – but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,” he said in an interview. How many measles cases has the US seen? His remark came as the incidence of measles crossed a milestone – the US has officially recorded 2,371 confirmed infections so far this year, surpassing the total tally in 2025 of 2,289. Taken together, in the past two years there has been more measles infections in the US than the rest of the 21st century combined. The last time a greater number of measles cases were recorded in a single year was in 1991. Continue reading...
Trump’s attorney general pick says he has reached deal with senators after standoff – US politics live
Todd Blanche issues formal order to withdraw ‘anti-weaponization fund’ after weeks of negotiations with Republican senators who were blocking his nomination Blanche formally rescinds Trump’s $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponization fund’ Sign up for the US Breaking News email Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche issued a formal order late on Sunday terminating Donald Trump’s $1.8bn “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate his political allies. Continue reading...
UK manufacturing growth picks up as Trump tariff chaos eases
Factories in upbeat mood despite fears over economic impact of US war on Iran, poll finds Business live – latest updates UK manufacturers ramped up production last month for the fourth consecutive month and at the fastest pace in almost two years, according to a leading survey of the industry. The S&P Global poll of manufacturers found them in upbeat mood in July, though anxious about the prospect of a long war in the Middle East that would block supplies of oil and gas, and raise the cost of production. Continue reading...
Russia blames Ukraine for deadly restaurant bombing in Moscow
Foreign ministry accuses Kyiv of carrying out attack reports say may have been aimed at air force chief Europe live – latest updates Russia has blamed Ukraine for a bombing at a restaurant in central Moscow that killed five people, amid growing speculation that a senior Russian military commander was the intended target. The explosion occurred on Saturday evening near the entrance to an upscale Italian restaurant in one of city’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers on Kudrinskaya Square. Continue reading...
Across the US, progressives are upending Democratic primary races. Will it happen in Missouri?
On Tuesday, voters will choose between ex-congresswoman Cori Bush, or pro-Israel incumbent Wesley Bell The pastor of a historically Black church on St Louis’s north side, Rodrick Burton has watched with bewilderment as the congressional race in his district has drawn national attention not about the bloodshed in his community, but rather in Gaza. “As a pastor who’s had eight members murdered, violence over there is terrible,” Burton said of the conflict in the Middle East. Continue reading...
Are Trump’s most blatant authoritarian moves backfiring? | Jan-Werner Müller
The president’s methods, from ‘flooding the zone’ with scandals to prioritizing loyalty over competence, could ultimately weaken rather than strengthen him The pattern is by now all too familiar: with every power grab Trump tries – from a fraudulent speech about voter fraud to appeals to his supreme court to let him rig the midterms – a debate kicks off about whether these moves are signs of strength or of desperation. Maybe we keep getting caught in this debate because the question is badly posed. So much of what is distinctive about Trump’s governance during his second term can serve the consolidation of an autocratic regime and at the same time create particular vulnerabilities for the regime. We have to become better at identifying these weaknesses, as opposed to being shell-shocked by Trump’s brazenness every single time. Aspiring autocrats operate differently in the 21st century; in previous eras, they had little hesitation about unleashing violence and committing massive human rights violations. Today, they try to fool both domestic and international audiences into thinking that democracy and the rule of law still exist. The recently deposed Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán was a master of this technique; he spent many years performing what he called “ the peacock dance ” to convince the European Commission (and chancellor Angela Merkel) that he wasn’t creating a kleptocratic autocracy. Jan-Werner Müller is a Guardian US columnist and a professor of politics at Princeton University Continue reading...
‘Stark example of brutality’: Trump’s ICE used court orders in plan to force-feed at least 10 hunger strikers in detention
Exclusive: court records reviewed by the Guardian show medical procedures included force-feeding, intravenous forced hydration and involuntary blood draws Homeland security officials under the Trump administration have quietly attempted to subject at least 10 hunger strikers in US immigrant detention to involuntary medical procedures, including force-feeding, a Guardian investigation has found. In 2025 and 2026, officials had definitely performed the procedures on at least three detained immigrants and likely subjected two more to the forced treatment – widely considered torture by human rights groups. The other five people gave in and broke their hunger strike at the last minute as force-feeding procedures loomed. One Kurdish asylum seeker and hunger striker detained at the privately-run Port Isabel service processing center in Los Fresnos, south Texas, was subjected to force-feeding for nearly eight months, according to a series of filings in the southern district of Texas federal court, beginning in May 2025 and ending only when he was deported. Another hunger striker at the same facility was subjected to involuntary medical procedures, including force-feeding, for nearly six months between September 2025 and March 2026, filings in the same court show. Someone detained at the Krome service processing center in Miami, a privately-run ICE jail, was subjected to forced medical procedures for nearly three months, filings in the southern district of Florida federal court show. DHS seemingly began the forced practices three days before Trump’s 2025 inauguration for a second term, then continued. Two other hunger strikers, one at the Northwest ICE processing center in Washington state and another inside the Montgomery processing center on the outskirts of Houston, Texas, were likely subjected to forced medical procedures, according to filings in the western district of Washington and in the southern district of Texas federal courts. In at least five cases, hunger strikers detained in Texas, Arizona and Florida, ended their hunger strike right before officials began with the forced medical procedures, filings in the southern district of Texas, district of Arizona and southern district of Florida federal courts show. The forced procedures were performed inside the detention centers. In six cases reviewed by the Guardian, detained immigrants did not have any legal representation during the court proceedings granting the involuntary medical procedures. DHS and ICE have conducted these procedures throughout the years, regardless of which presidential administration is in power. In 2024, under Joe Biden, the Guardian found that DHS attempted to subject at least 10 hunger strikers in ICE detention to forced medical treatment. It definitely proceeded with at least two people, and likely subjected at least four more people to them. However, since the return of Trump to the White House and the dramatic increase in immigration arrests and detention , medical experts and advocates worry more hunger strikes will occur and strikers will be subjected to the practices. Look out for Force-fed by ICE parts two and three in the coming days Continue reading...
Abandoned by the US: Palestinian Americans trapped in a surge of Israeli settler violence
After visits by US ambassador Mike Huckabee to the nearby Israeli settlement of Shilo, Palestinian Americans in Turmus Ayya have witnessed a terrifying rise in attacks No man’s land in Turmus Ayya lies where the US flags end and the Israeli flags begin. It is a few hundred metres of soil scorched by molotov cocktails where Israeli settlers have placed a boulder to tell the Palestinian villagers: this is our land now. On one side of that boulder are the white-stoned mansions where the Palestinian residents of Turmus Ayya live. About 80% of them are US citizens, members of the diaspora in New York, Chicago and Paterson, New Jersey, who return for the summers and bring their children here to experience Palestinian culture and learn Arabic. Many call themselves proud American patriots and fly the stars and stripes from their balconies. Continue reading...
Standards watchdog investigating Reform UK’s Richard Tice
Party’s deputy leader accused of a possible failure to declare an interest, commissioner says on its website Britain’s parliamentary standards watchdog is investigating Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, over a possible failure to declare an interest, the commissioner said on its website on Monday. More details soon … Continue reading...
Nauru officially changes its name to Naoero
Pacific nation is latest country to signal a shift away from its colonial past with return to its traditional name The Pacific Island country of Nauru has changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, its president said, matching the spelling and pronunciation in the national language. The country’s international code will change from NRU to NRO and its people will be known as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan. Commonly known abroad by the pronunciation of Now-roo, the new name is spoken as Now-ero. Continue reading...
Red Cross visits Aung San Suu Kyi after Myanmar military pushed to prove she is alive
Meeting follows years of questions over wellbeing of detained former leader, who was ousted by coup in 2021 Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the aid organisation has confirmed. The meeting follows years of questions over the wellbeing of the 81-year-old , whose whereabouts and health condition have been largely unknown since the elected civilian government she led was ousted by a military coup in February 2021. Continue reading...
Suspected mass bird flu deaths found in second state as Murray Watt warns ‘this is the beginning’
Environment minister says Australia has ‘long and difficult journey’ and says more mass mortality events likely Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Aerial surveillance has detected mass bird deaths in a second Australian state in another suspected escalation of the spread of deadly H5 bird flu . The environment minister, Murray Watt, said on Monday Australia had begun “a long and difficult journey” as CSIRO analysis confirmed Australia’s first mass mortality event at Baudin Rocks off South Australia’s coast. Continue reading...
Phil Collins details serious alcoholism: ‘People were coming to say goodbye’
Pop and rock legend tells Sunday Times of drinking problem and ill health after final Genesis tour in 2021 Phil Collins has said that he suffered life-threatening alcoholism in recent years. Speaking to the Sunday Times , the pop and rock legend, 75, said that his drinking began after he stopped taking Antabuse, a drug that causes illness if alcohol is consumed, which he had been using since an earlier period of alcoholism. Continue reading...
Oil prices plunge and Europe’s stock markets rally after Trump calls off Iran strikes
Brent crude drops by 5% after US president said talks on Middle East peace deal would resume Business live – latest updates Crude oil prices fell sharply and European stock markets rallied on Monday after Donald Trump cancelled planned strikes on Iran to focus on negotiations for a peace deal. Brent crude was trading 5% lower at $83.50 a barrel by mid-morning, after falling as low as $81.55 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate dropped more than $5 to $79.47 a barrel. Continue reading...
Middle East crisis live: Iran denies Trump’s claims that talks due to take place
Iranian spokesperson says there are no plans to receive or send a delegation following US president’s assertion that talks would take place today Trump says Iran talks set for Monday Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East. Esmaeil Baghaei , Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a weekly press briefing on Monday that Iran is not currently holding any talks with the US, Reuters reports – contradicting claims made by Donald Trump on Sunday night that talks with Iran would happen the next day. Continue reading...
Former navy officer criticises Reform plan to use military to stop small boats
Retired commander says policy lacks substance as party accused of trying to distract from Nigel Farage’s scandals UK politics live – latest updates A Reform UK proposal to use the military to stop small boats bringing migrants to the UK from France lacks substance, a former Royal Navy officer has said, suggesting the UK’s warships would be better used countering actual military threats. Reform’s political opponents have claimed its plans have more to do with distracting from the financial scandals surrounding its leader, Nigel Farage, than about solving the small boats issue, after the party proposed having the navy pick up people trying to make irregular Channel crossings and take them to France. Continue reading...
Criticism of Reform UK’s pledge to use Navy to stop small boats – politics live
Labour say plan is a ‘desperate attempt to distract from sleaze’ while a retired commander says it ‘lacks substance’ The leader of Restore Britain, Rupert Lowe, told the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, that if he was “prepared to work together around serious policies, serious reform and serious government, then so are we”. In a video posted on X on Sunday, Lowe said: I truly believe there could be sufficient common ground for our two movements to cooperate collectively, destroy the looming leftwing alliance that will finish off what hope remains for this country. In my view, failing to even try because of our own personal difficulties is simply not an option. Now is the time to put our differences aside and cooperate for the good of the country that we all love. Mass deportation of illegal migrants “including women and children”. Tougher rules on legal migration, a ban on halal and kosher slaughter, the burqa, cousin marriage and sharia courts. A referendum on the death penalty. Welfare cuts to fund “self-sufficiency”. The exclusion of former Tory ministers from any future cabinet. Continue reading...