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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Volcanic eruption halts flights at Jakarta and seven other Indonesian airports
Ash cloud from Anak Krakatau affects hundreds of flights and some school and fishing activities Indonesia halted operations at eight airports on Sunday, including from its main international hub, affecting hundreds of flights as a result of an ash cloud from the Anak Krakatau volcano. Saturday’s eruption, which produced lava and booming sounds that were heard up to 435 miles (700km) away, according to Indonesia’s geology agency, also interrupted some school activities and fishing. Continue reading...
Broken feet, ripped-out hair and now a death sentence: the fate of twin sisters jailed over Iran protests
Taraneh Rahimi was told prison guards would rape her sister, Romina, if she did not sign a confession The twins were 19 and still in high school when they were taken from their beds in the dead of night by masked men later identified as being sent by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. After four months of desperately seeking news from hospitals and state institutions, their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, finally learned their fate. Taraneh and Romina Rahimi had been seized over their decision to join millions on the streets of Iranian cities during the January protests against the regime. The twins were unrecognisable by the time of their mother’s prison visit in May. Continue reading...
Falklands row shows urgent need to commit to 3% target, says Labour defence committee chair
Exclusive: Tan Dhesi says Argentinian threats make it more crucial than ever that PM increase defence spending Javier Milei’s threats to the Falkland Islands make it even more important that Andy Burnham increase defence spending immediately, according to the Labour chair of the defence committee. Tan Dhesi said the comments by the Argentinian president this week show why the government should raise military spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. But he said Burnham’s plans remain mired in confusion after the prime minister appeared to reassure him that the 2030 target would be hit, only for Downing Street to later retreat. Continue reading...
Brisbane expected to swelter under hottest September day in years as east coast faces unseasonably warm weather
Queensland capital forecast to hit 34C with local fire bans issued for Ipswich and Lockyer Valley, while Sydney sees reprieve from record heat Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Early spring fire bans have been put in place as Australia’s eastern states reckon with unseasonably hot conditions for the start of the season. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned of unseasonal heat in the low to mid-30s in north-eastern New South Wales and south-east Queensland. Continue reading...
The world is being driven to the brink by thugs and dictators, but there is a route to a brighter future | Simon Tisdall
It’s no surprise some analysts say we are already in the midst of the third world war, but ordinary people have more power than we think Don’t look up! The world is a mess. The sky could fall in any day. Unending wars, expanding humanitarian crises, rising authoritarianism, dysfunctional democracies, rampant racial and religious extremism, and unchecked lawlessness cast a dark cloud as the west’s new political year begins. Set all that against a backdrop of staggering global economic inequality, corporate and individual greed, irresponsible government indebtedness, dangerous AI gambles, climate breakdown and proliferating nuclear weapons, and a truly apocalyptic global outlook begins to take shape. It’s enough to make anyone shut their eyes, cover their ears and utter a Munch-like scream. And it’s only getting worse. Democratic leaders who promise a better, safer, more optimistic future – what Britain’s freshly arrived prime minister, Andy Burnham, calls a “ new era of possibility ” – cannot escape this wider international context. Last week’s global bond market upheaval , sparked by external factors, left Burnham’s cash-strapped government struggling with sharply increased borrowing costs before he barely got started. The fact he chose Ukraine for his first overseas trip, while symbolically important, highlighted another grim reality. As a lead opponent of Vladimir Putin’s invasion, Britain now finds itself in a de facto state of war with Russia – and facing attack. Argentina, too, is eyeing UK defence vulnerabilities . These are not the sort of possibilities Burnham envisaged. Continue reading...
Travellers to EU face renewed queues as border-check flexibility rules expire
Sources indicate some members states will not enforce EES biometric controls after 6 September deadline What are the new EU border checks and how will they affect your holiday? Travellers to the EU could face renewed border queues as flexibility measures for the bloc’s entry-exit system officially come to an end – although numerous sources have indicated that some member states will not enforce biometric checks. Airlines last week called on the European Commission to extend discretionary powers to pause EES controls when necessary until the end of 2026, with the deadline for “flexibility” passing on 6 September. Continue reading...
Tupac trial spotlights decades of US police failures in solving the case
Police received information nearly immediately after the killing. It took Las Vegas police 27 years to make an arrest For years, US law enforcement officials blamed their failure to solve hip-hop star Tupac Shakur ’s murder on the lack of cooperation from key witnesses, and on gang members’ “snitches get stitches” culture. But testimony in a much-delayed murder trial, which concluded this week , almost 30 years after Shakur’s death, highlighted just how much law enforcement officials knew about the shooting, and how early. Continue reading...
Michigan deny minnows Western Michigan with controversial last-second Hail Mary
Underwood throws for for 47-yard winning score Officials put one second back on clock after review No 16 Wolverines survive in Whittingham debut Given an unlikely second chance at a game-ending Hail Mary, Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass that lifted No 16 Michigan over Western Michigan 13-12 on Saturday night. The Wolverines were 27-and-a-hakf-point favorites in coach Kyle Whittingham’s debut. The Broncos thought they’d secured a historic upset when Underwood’s first Hail Mary sailed out of bounds with the clock expired. Continue reading...
‘Nobody will win’: Zelenskyy adviser warns of mutual destruction if war with Russia continues
Serhii Beskrestnov says deadlock on frontline and increasing use of deep strikes is placing civilians and infrastructure at greater risk Russia and Ukraine are locked in an escalating war of long-range strikes with a growing risk to civilians in which neither side can entirely prevail, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s defence technology adviser. Serhii Beskrestnov, widely known by his call sign, Flash, said he was worried about the prospects for Kyiv this winter, and suggested elderly people should be evacuated in case Russian bombing were to knock out the capital’s energy supply. Continue reading...
Coalition denies flag-burning ban an attempt to undercut One Nation as Labor says push has ‘element of desperation’
Policy unveiled on Sunday would create new criminal offences for flag burning and defacing historical monuments, and legislate 26 January as Australia Day Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Angus Taylor has rejected claims the Coalition’s push to criminalise burning of the Australian flag is an attempt to undercut One Nation, insisting penalties of up to a year in prison are necessary to “stand up for our country”. The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, has previously called for criminal penalties for flag burning, with a petition by the party attracting approximately 50,000 signatures last year. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...
Labor plans crackdown on social media algorithms as Taylor says he’s ‘deeply sceptical’
Anika Wells expected to release legislation creating a digital duty of care in parliament this week, but Coalition argues it is ‘attempt to censor the internet’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Labor’s plan to crack down on social media algorithms faces significant opposition in federal parliament, with the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, warning against efforts by the government to “censor” free speech online. The communications minister, Anika Wells, is expected to release draft legislation creating a digital duty of care for social media users in Australia as parliament returns this week. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...
Manhunt after alleged axe attack in Victoria leaves three people with serious injuries
Police search for alleged attacker, in his 50s, after incident in Gippsland town of Tyers Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Three people have been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after an alleged axe attack in Victoria, with police still searching for the suspect. . Continue reading...
Falling ceiling debris at Kennedy Center may mire debate over renovations
Preservationists worry board may seize on incident ‘to make the point that the whole thing needs to be shut down’ Falling debris from a ceiling in the grand foyer of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts may have complicated a battle over renovations of the Washington DC arts center that could result in the building being demolished. A portion of the ceiling collapsed on Friday evening after heavy rain swept through the area, prompting officials to temporarily close the Edward Durell Stone-designed building. No one was injured by the debris. Continue reading...
Australia news live: Taylor proposes laws against flag burning and to lock in 26 January as Australia Day
Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast More money for the Western Freeway The Victorian government has committed another $550m to the upgrade of the Western Freeway. We have listened to the community. Better local roads in growing areas are my priority. I want to help working people in the west spend less time on the road and more time where they need to be. Temperatures this spring will average as much as three degrees above the baseline from recent decades, potentially the hottest spring on record. Continue reading...
Drone attack blamed on guerrillas kills at least three soldiers in Colombia
Officials accuse National Liberation Army of launching strike followed by clash inside military compound An attack involving explosives dropped from drones followed by a clash inside a military compound in north-eastern Colombia has killed at least three soldiers and wounded four, Colombia’s army said Saturday. Local authorities blamed the attack late Friday on the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN). It targeted a military unit in the municipality of Ocaña, in the Norte de Santander department, which borders Venezuela. Two soldiers died at the site and a third after receiving medical attention, Colombia’s military said on X. Continue reading...
Prince William to represent King Charles at funeral of Norway’s King Harald V
Duty falls by precedent to William to attend service of late monarch, alongside Princess Royal, who is godmother to new king Haakon VIII The Prince of Wales is to represent his father at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway next week, Buckingham Palace has announced. William, the heir to the throne, will be joined by his aunt the Princess Royal, who is attending in a private and personal capacity as godmother of the new king, Haakon VIII. Continue reading...
More voters identifying as Democrats and not calling themselves Republican
Latest data from Gallup, showing 49% leaning Democrat and 39% Republican, marks sharp reversal from 2024 More voters are identifying as Democrats and shying away from calling themselves Republican, according to the latest quarterly data published by Gallup . Some 49%of voters surveyed leaned Democrat, including independent voters asked to pick one party or the other. Only 39% of respondents leaned Republican. Continue reading...
Francisco Cerundolo roars back from brink to stun home hope Taylor Fritz at US Open
Argentinian beats No 9 seed 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Fritz had three break points for chance to serve for match As his last, desperate backhand soared far past the baseline inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Taylor Fritz instantly held his face in his hands, unable to hide the agony of squandering such a great opportunity. For much of his afternoon, Fritz was cruising. He had established two sets to love lead against Francisco Cerundolo before breaking serve in the opening game of the third. One unfocused service game was enough to shift the momentum and once Fritz had lost control, he spent another two hours failing to retrieve it. His US Open ended with an excruciating 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 third-round defeat by a courageous Cerundolo. Continue reading...
Possums in the roof, koalas in bed: study shows how animals resort to Australian homes after habitat loss
Microbats and wombats among the most common species found in buildings, with some discovered in letter boxes or air conditioning systems Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Possums in the roof, bats in the curtains and ducks on the balcony: new research has revealed how native animals are making themselves at home in our houses. Researchers have analysed a decade of wildlife rescue reports and found brushtail and ringtail possums make up half of all cases of animals in buildings, followed by microbats and bare-nosed wombats. Continue reading...
Ingebrigtsen sorry for calling 1500m rivals ‘losers’ but maintains Hocker ‘acted cowardly’
Fiery Diamond League comments partially walked back On Hocker: ‘Cole and I talked it through after the race’ The double Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen has issued a part-apology for calling his rivals “losers” and a “bunch of cowards” after a spicy men’s 1500m Diamond League final on Friday. However, Ingebrigtsen has continued to maintain that he was still right to accuse the Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker of cowardice – because he asked for a strong pace and swapped in his own pacemaker only to then hide behind others in the race. Continue reading...
Robin Morgan, child star who became feminist, poet and editor, dies aged 85
Leading second-wave feminist co-founded Women’s Media Center with Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem Robin Morgan, a child star of the 1940s and 50s who grew up to become an all-American radical as a poet, essayist, editor and second-wave feminist, has died. She was 85. Morgan’s death was confirmed Saturday by the Women’s Media Center, an organization she co-founded with Jane Fonda and the celebrated author and activist Gloria Steinem , who died Wednesday. Continue reading...
London Paddington fire causes rail chaos as Heathrow trains cancelled
Blaze causes electricity supply failure and disruption of services to airport and Reading A fire near a train track in the London Paddington area has caused major disruption, with services to Heathrow airport cancelled. The fire caused an electricity supply failure which has left all lines between Paddington and the airport blocked, National Rail said. Continue reading...
Egyptian TV presenter among 12 sentenced to death for drug crime
Sarah Khalifa, 39, charged with forming organised criminal gang to manufacture and traffick drugs An Egyptian court sentenced a well-known television presenter and 11 others to death for manufacturing and trafficking narcotics in a sprawling drug case, official media reported on Saturday. The presenter, Sarah Khalifa, 39, is best known for her programme Mission Impossible, which dealt with issues concerning security and crime. Continue reading...
‘I wasn’t even listening,’ Farage says of donations scandal meeting
Reform UK leader maintains innocence in overseas funding controversy on last day of party conference UK politics live Nigel Farage has claimed that he “wasn’t even listening” during a meeting at the centre of a controversy about whether his party considered evading the law on accepting donations from overseas. The Reform UK leader also claimed that he knew donation law “better than anybody” during interviews as he sought to salvage the final day of his party conference from the fallout that has already cost him two of his closest aides. Continue reading...