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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Israel election live: polls open in most consequential vote in country’s history
Most polling shows prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition will lose its majority, with Gadi Eisenkot the leading opposition contender What you need to know about Israel’s election In Jerusalem Israel is holding its first election since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, the deadliest day in the country’s history, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, the majority of them civilians. Continue reading...
Chinese markets lose trillions as race for AI supremacy with US takes its toll
Lack of profits and the threat posed by western countries are raising concern about the sustainability of Beijing’s AI boom Trillions of dollars have been wiped from China’s stock markets in recent months amid increasing anxiety about the future of artificial intelligence, as Beijing races against the United States for dominance in the sector. The STAR 50 Index, which tracks technology and innovation companies on the Shanghai stock exchange, has plunged 40% since June. Other indexes of major companies dropped by about 20% over the same time period. Continue reading...
Eagles’ nightmare season deepens as Cowboys hand Philadelphia fifth straight loss
Prescott throws three touchdowns in Dallas victory Javonte Williams rushes for career-high 155 yards Eagles fall to 2-5 amid Jalen Hurts injury absence Dak Prescott threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns, two to CeeDee Lamb, and the Dallas Cowboys beat Philadelphia 38-21 on Monday night to hand the Eagles their fifth straight loss. Javonte Williams ran for a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown, and the Cowboys (3-4) remained in contention for the NFC East title. The New York Giants lead the division at 4-2-1. Continue reading...
Ruthless Brewers eye World Series sweep after crushing Rays 10-1 in Game 3
Milwaukee one win from first World Series title Brewers lead series 3-0 after resounding win in Tampa Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang sparked Milwaukee’s eight-run fifth inning, and the Brewers routed the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 on Monday night to move within one victory of their first World Series title. Rookie left-hander Robert Gasser pitched one-hit ball and faced the minimum through six innings as Milwaukee rolled to a 3-0 lead in the series. Game 4 is Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, where many Brewers fans showed up on Monday and cheered from behind the visitors’ dugout. Continue reading...
US bans vehicles from China’s BYD at Japan military base, calling them ‘unacceptable’ risk
US military says the restrictions on the electric vehicles at Kadena airbase also apply to delivery drivers and taxis One of America’s biggest overseas military bases has banned vehicles made by the Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD over security concerns, the US military in Japan said on Tuesday. The ban, which went into effect this week at Kadena airbase on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa , has fueled speculation that similar measures could be taken at other US military facilities as part of Washington’s crackdown on Chinese technology it suspects of being used to collect sensitive information. Continue reading...
Golden State Valkyries one win from WNBA title after Game 5 win over Atlanta Dream
WNBA finals Game 5: Dream 55-64 Valkyries Golden State lead best-of-seven series 3-2 Valkyries could win title in second WNBA season Kiah Stokes had 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots as the Golden State Valkyries moved within one win of a championship in their second season, beating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA finals on Monday night. Angel Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds and five assists – a big difference from her two standout performances in the first two games of the series at Chase Center. Reese shook her head when whistled for the second of her three offensive fouls with 7:43 to play. Continue reading...
Beau Lamarre-Condon tells jury he wanted to report deaths but friend encouraged him to dispose of bodies
NSW police officer accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies tells court he wanted to do ‘right thing’ by their families Follow our Australian politics live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Beau Lamarre-Condon has accused a friend of encouraging him to dispose of the bodies of two men “straight away” despite him wanting to report the deaths to police, according to his first statement to his double murder trial. Lamarre-Condon, 31, is accused of fatally shooting couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies with his police service weapon in Baird’s Paddington home on 19 February 2024. Continue reading...
Jay-Z to headline 2027 Super Bowl half-time show
The man who has helped produce the Super Bowl halftime show for years is stepping up to perform himself, at SoFi Stadium in California After years of producing the Super Bowl half-time show, Jay-Z announced that the 2027 headline act will none other than himself. After days of speculation, the NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced on Monday night that the rapper will be the featured performer for the half-time festivities at the Super Bowl LXI on 14 February at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Continue reading...
Trump administration asks Washington to set aside hundreds of ballots from suspected noncitizen voters
This is the latest sign of the administration’s attempts to challenge states with competitive midterm races that could determine control of Congress The Trump administration on Monday asked Washington state to set aside any ballots received from more than 400 people it alleges are registered to vote without US citizenship, less than two weeks after making a similar demand in California. The announcement is the latest sign of the administration’s attempts to sow doubts about the election or its outcome in states with races that will help determine control of the US Senate and House. Continue reading...
‘Digital hostile environment’: AI secretly being embedded across Home Office, report claims
Tasks from determining asylum seekers’ ages to border surveillance now involve AI, says Open Rights Group AI has been embedded across the Home Office in near-total secrecy, reinforcing the so-called hostile environment for immigration, according to research. Tasks from the detection of potential sham marriages to determining the age of asylum seekers and checking through the contents of phones of new arrivals now involve use of the technology, according to a report by Open Rights Group (ORG). Continue reading...
UK shop price inflation ‘highest since 2024’ as retailers struggle to limit price rises
British Retail Consortium says ‘dam is starting to break on the huge wave of costs’ being kept from consumers Shop price inflation has risen to the highest level in two and a half years, according to the British Retail Consortium, which warned that “the dam is starting to break” when it comes to retailers trying to limit price rises for customers. The lobby group said shop price inflation was 2.1% year on year in October, a sharp rise compared with 1.4% in September, and an indication that retailers were beginning to pass on the rising costs of energy and food ingredients since the Middle East conflict broke out. Continue reading...
Reader Q&A: After Lula’s sensational victory in Brazil’s presidential election, post your questions for the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent
Having lost the first round of Brazil’s presidential election to far right rival Flávio Bolsonaro, incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spectacularly triumphed in the second. What comes next for Brazil? The Guardian’s Tom Phillips will be answering your questions from 15:00 GMT today. Ask a question: log in or sign up here to comment, or email conversations@theguardian.com After losing the first round of Brazil’s presidential election to far right rival Flávio Bolsonaro, incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, better known simply as Lula, pulled off the most stunning political fightback in modern Brazilian history by winning the second, in so doing securing a fourth presidential term. It will see him become the country’s longest-serving leader. The result – 51.79% to Lula, 48.21% to Bolsonaro – was delivered after a supreme court judge had extended polling time by two hours, and after Lula’s camp accused their opponents of sabotaging public transport in an attempt to keep their voters from the polls. It was the first time in Brazilian electoral history that a first-round verdict had been overturned. Continue reading...
FTC and 20 states sue Dollar General, accusing bargain chain of overcharging customers
Suit that cites 2025 Guardian investigation alleges ‘pattern of inaccurate pricing’ that ‘affects millions of purchases’ The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states have sued Dollar General, the nation’s largest dollar-store chain, for persistently overcharging customers at its more than 20,000 stores across the United States. The lawsuit , filed in federal court in Nashville, cites a Guardian investigation published last December. Continue reading...
Court blocks bid by Trump DoJ to stop California from counting mail-in ballots
California counties were told by DoJ to set aside and verify ballots administration claims belong to noncitizen voters A US appeals court on Monday ruled against Donald Trump’s justice department in a major voting dispute ahead of the midterm elections, denying a request to block California from counting mail ballots from people on a list of more than 20,000 registered voters the federal government alleges are likely noncitizens. The decision by the San Francisco-based ninth US circuit court of appeals marked the latest setback in Trump’s efforts to assert a greater federal role in overseeing elections in the run-up to the 3 November midterms in which his fellow Republicans are fighting to retain control of Congress. Continue reading...
Massachusetts lesbian bar makes frantic effort to find new owners after relaxing masking policy
Last Ditch bar announced it would ‘soft close’ after it went viral following a story on its attempt to relax Covid rules A Massachusetts lesbian bar that went viral for loosening its Covid mask policy last month announced plans to “soft close” on Monday as it seeks new ownership. The Last Ditch bar, in the small city of Greenfield, said in an Instagram post that it was searching for co-owners, new owners or a full sale, and that it would “soft close effective immediately”, with “only booked events” continuing while it closes this winter. It had opened just last year as a bar for “dykes, transsexuals, gender freaks, workers, and their friends”. Continue reading...
Carers allowed to earn over the weekly limit without losing out as ‘cliff-edge’ abolished in the budget
Controversial mechanism that hit unpaid carers with huge penalties to be scrapped following Guardian investigation The controversial rule that led to unpaid carers being punished with penalties amounting to thousands of pounds is to be abolished, the Guardian can reveal. The chancellor, John Healey, is to announce a new digital taper system for the so-called carer’s allowance in Wednesday’s budget, effectively ending what is regarded as one of the UK benefit system’s most feared and unfair administrative practices. Continue reading...
Trump issues $1m reward for reporting voter fraud in past or upcoming elections
His comments come ahead of the November midterm elections and follow his claims of widespread voter fraud Donald Trump has announced a $1m reward for reports of voter fraud in past elections and the upcoming midterm elections, with payment contingent on the arrest and conviction of those responsible. In a Truth Social post on Monday, the president wrote: “Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Continue reading...
Justice department charges ex-FBI director James Comey for third time
Comey, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, accused of leaking information related to US national defense The justice department charged former FBI director James Comey on Monday with two counts of leaking information related to national defense, the third time the Trump administration has filed criminal charges against one of Donald Trump’s most despised foes. The charges, filed in federal court in Washington DC, provide few details about what Comey is alleged to have leaked. The government alleges that the former FBI director leaked the information in 2016 and conspired with an unnamed person to give the information to a national news outlet. Continue reading...
Jordan attacks militants in Syria in retaliation for last week’s church attack
Jordanian air force says it carried out strikes against ‘terrorist groups’ tied to killing of nine in Karak Jordan has carried out airstrikes against armed groups in Syria in retaliation for Friday’s attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the southern Jordanian city of Karak that killed nine people, the Jordanian air force has said in a statement. It said the operation “resulted in the killing and wounding of many members of these terrorist groups and the destruction of a number of their vehicles”. It did not specify who the groups were or the precise location of the strikes. Continue reading...
Brazil: defeated Flávio Bolsonaro ordered to surrender passports
Far-right senator banned from leaving country as supreme court judge’s ruling makes reference to money-laundering case The far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro was banned from leaving Brazil and ordered to surrender his passports just hours after his dramatic loss in the presidential election to the leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The ruling was issued by supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes, the same justice who oversaw the trial of the senator’s father, the former president Jair Bolsonaro, for attempting a coup. Continue reading...
British politicians among international delegates barred from entering West Bank
Group was on visit to meet Palestinian children, farmers and civil leaders facing escalating violence from Israeli forces An international delegation including British politicians has been barred from entering the West Bank on a trip to meet Palestinian children, farmers and society leaders facing escalating violence from Israeli forces during olive harvest season. The delegation of 23 people, including four elected representatives, was drawn from countries including France, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Greece, Holland, Ireland and the US. It included Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, Lara Bird, MP for the Scottish National party, Kate Nevens, MSP for the Scottish Green party and Sam Tarry, a former Labour MP. Continue reading...
Ex-South Carolina governors endorse Democrat Annie Andrews in Senate race
Republican and Democrat come together for a rare joint endorsement of candidate in unexpected competitive race Two South Carolina former governors, David Beasley and Jim Hodges, a Republican and Democrat respectively, have come together for a rare joint endorsement for Democrat Annie Andrews’s Senate bid. Andrews, a pediatrician, is looking to flip the seat , currently held by Darline Graham, the Trump-endorsed sister of the late senator Lindsey Graham, in what has become an unexpectedly competitive race for the usually reliably red state. Continue reading...
Protest leaders urge French pupils to keep barricading their schools
Activists say struggle must go on until their ‘maximum’ demands are met over teacher shortages and building repairs French children should continue to barricade their schools and take part in street protests, a student union said on Monday after the government announced a package of education measures to try to stem the crisis. “Today we’re at the negotiating table, we’re able to negotiate with the government,” Pierre Sourzat of Les Lycéens told France Info television. “We’re in a power struggle and we still need to call for continued mobilisation to meet a maximum of our demands.” Continue reading...
NFL today: How to watch Cowboys v Eagles, TV channels & live stream Monday 26 October
How will Dallas and Philadelphia fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options There is “reeling”, and then there is whatever the Eagles are doing heading into Monday Night Football against the Cowboys. Philadelphia have lost four games in a row to fall within a whisker of last place in the NFC East. Jalen Hurts’s blood clots rapidly escalated and have probably knocked the franchise QB out for the season. Backup Tanner McKee has inherited a legitimate crisis. And it’s not as if all was hunky-dory before Hurts went out. The Eagles had already blown a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Rams and let the Jaguars come back on them in shocking fashion in London before the Hurts news. The Cowboys have their own enormous issues. Former Eagles assistant Christian Parker joined up as defensive coordinator, aiming to fix a bad unit, but the Cowboys are still struggling to keep teams from racking up big point and yardage totals. Facing the Cowboys defense has been a salve for struggling offenses, as when a Packers team who couldn’t convert a third down for their life suddenly converted nine of their first 10 against Big D last weekend. Continue reading...