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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Higher education regulator apologises for imposing £585,000 fine on university
Office for Students made decision to punish University of Sussex with fine last year after claiming it breached free speech regulations England’s higher education regulator has apologised for a string of mistakes in its decision to punish the University of Sussex with a record fine that was later overturned by the high court. The Office for Students (OfS) tried to impose a £585,000 fine against Sussex last year after claiming the university breached free speech regulations involving its former professor Kathleen Stock. It was forced to back down in April after a judicial review initiated by Sussex found the OfS “had closed its mind” and acted with bias. Continue reading...
Far-right Israeli minister outlines plan for removal of all Palestinians from Gaza
Itamar Ben-Gvir claims proposal for illegal forced displacement of 2 million people is ‘realistic’ and ‘concrete’ Israel’s far-right national security minister has set out a plan for the illegal forced displacement of all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, to force them abroad. Speaking in the run-up to close-fought Israeli elections, Itamar Ben-Gvir said the plan aimed to remove 250,000 Palestinians from Gaza in the first year, followed by the rest of its population of roughly 2 million over the next six years. Continue reading...
At least 14 Serbians targeted with advanced spyware
Student protesters among those hacked, Share Foundation says, but government denies spying At least 14 people from across Serbian civil society were targeted with advanced spyware earlier this year in what the digital rights group Share Foundation said was the largest documented wave of such infection in Serbia to date. The wave of spyware infections was discovered in August after Apple notified people in 110 countries that they had probably been victims of mercenary spyware. Continue reading...
Thieves steal more than 70,000 pints’ worth of Guinness from depot in Cheshire
Police say two lorries were driven into industrial estate in Runcorn and attached to trailers holding about 800 barrels The famous tagline “Guinness is good for you” applies only when the drink is bought and paid for, police have said, after thieves made off with more than 70,000 pints’ worth. Officers believe two lorries were driven into a depot in Runcorn on Monday, each attached to a waiting trailer holding a combined total of about 800 barrels before being driven away. Continue reading...
Ben Jennings on the Reform UK conference opening in Birmingham – cartoon
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Sabotage, leaks and political ties: the story of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial
A Maltese businessman has been cleared of involvement in the journalist’s death, but his trial revealed the challenges faced by those leading the search for her killers The conclusion of the longest-running murder trial in Maltese history has left a country in turmoil, and a grieving family still searching for answers. At 7.30pm on Wednesday, gasps and cheers echoed around hall 22 of the courts of justice in Valletta, as a jury pronounced a businessman accused of ordering the murder of the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia not guilty . Continue reading...
Hundreds gather outside Holyrood to call for pause on Scotland’s datacentre boom
Opposition mounts as at least 20 projects proposed, including one in Fife billed as second largest in world Kat Jones might be the closest thing Scotland has to Erin Brockovich in 2026. Standing in the shadow of Arthur’s seat outside Holyrood, the 52-year-old is revving up the crowd of protesters around her. “Who is here from Lammermuir? Ayrshire? What about Aberdeen?” she calls to the crowd. On Thursday, hundreds traveled to Edinburgh to call for an immediate moratorium on Scotland’s datacentre boom, which includes one project in Auchtertool, Fife, that has been billed as the second largest in the world. Continue reading...
Unlike Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham promises us that things will get better. And we must believe they can | Polly Toynbee
The PM’s warmth and feelgood policies, such as scrapping VAT on energy bills and a taskforce looking at political donations, offer something rare: hope Of all the epithets thrown at a new prime minister, “people-pleaser” bounces off Andy Burnham. After all, the polls have him with a favourability rating of +13 , making him the only party leader who scores above zero. His manner as he responded to all 125 of his questioners on his first Commons appearance this week had a warmth and empathy that his predecessor lacked. It’s a natural timbre, a good bedside manner for an uneasy country. Keir Starmer’s rating as he left office was -36 . He was defenestrated precisely because of his unpopularity. That baffled his allies, but his ratings crashed early into an electoral death zone from which no leader returns. His revenge comes in giving Labour a potentially awkward byelection confrontation with Zack Polanski : although, just as Burnham defeated the right in Makerfield, any candidate under his leadership stands a good chance of defeating the Greens in Holborn and St Pancras. Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Reform’s media presenter worked for Chinese state propaganda channel
Party podcast and social media host Ray Addison fronted films about province where China is accused of genocide Reform UK’s top media presenter has worked for a Chinese state propaganda channel within the past year, the Guardian can reveal. Ray Addison, who presents the political party’s in-house podcast and social media campaigns, fronted films about Xinjiang province – where the Chinese government is accused of committing genocide – for state media in September 2025. Continue reading...
Athletic investigation finds Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel ties violated standards
NFL reporter resigned after fallout from photo scandal Patriots coach, Russini were pictured at Arizona resort Investigation unable to find ‘exact nature’ of relationship The Athletic’s internal investigation found that the relationship between former NFL reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was in “clear violation” of the newsroom’s standards. The outlet, which is owned by the New York Times, released a report Thursday detailing the findings of a five-months-long investigation . Mike Semel, the Athletic’s editorial director for standards and quality, wrote that he was unable to find signs of clear bias in her coverage or determine the exact “nature of their relationship”, but said it gave the appearance of a conflict of interest. Continue reading...
Venezuelan opposition leader questions US oil deal with ‘illegitimate regime’
María Corina Machado says interim government does not have democratic mandate to negotiate natural resources The Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, has questioned Donald Trump’s oil deal with Venezuela’s interim government, declaring that the country’s natural resources do not belong to “an illegitimate regime”. In her first public comments since Trump announced what he called “the biggest oil deal in world history” with Venezuela last Friday, Machado walked a diplomatic tightrope between challenging the controversial agreement and trying not to rile the White House. Continue reading...
US House passes bill penalizing universities that participate in boycott of Israel
GOP-backed bill mandates institutions receiving federal funds not impose restrictions on programs related to Israel The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican-backed bill that would penalize universities that participate in boycotts of Israel, or attempt to prevent students from taking part in exchange programs with the country. The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed by a 237-169 vote, with 33 Democrats breaking with the rest of their party to vote in favor, and only two Republicans opposed. It now goes to the Senate for consideration. Continue reading...
EU’s ability to defend against invasion remains in doubt, finds official report
Fragmented infrastructure and reliance on US continue to hinder ‘defence readiness’, says European court of auditors Europe live – latest updates The EU’s ability to respond to a foreign invasion by 2030 remains in doubt due to a continuing reliance on the US and fragmented national defence systems, according to a report from its official auditor. The European court of auditors (ECA) said the EU was much better prepared than before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine of 2022, but achieving its goal of defence readiness by the end of the decade would be difficult. Continue reading...
Kemi the Valkyrie spoils for a fight and has the Russians in her sights | John Crace
Tory leader scents Labour weakness on defence spending and declares it’s 2030 or bust UK politics live – latest updates There’s something about Kemi Badenoch making a keynote speech – everything she does comes billed as keynote these days – about defence that makes most normal people a little nervous. Because when Kemi talks about defence, what’s really on her mind is war. Starting one, if possible. Kemi is never happier than when picking a fight. With herself, if no one else is around. You get the feeling that left on a desert island she would be dreaming of Apocalypse Now. Flying low over the Mekong delta in a helicopter gunship, the Ride of the Valkyries playing through her earphones while she yelled “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”. Continue reading...
Manchester synagogue attack: ministers seek to block M15 files from inquest
Government lawyers tell coroner disclosing intelligence would pose serious risk to national security Ministers are seeking to block intelligence material from being heard at an inquest into the death of two men killed in the 2025 Manchester synagogue attack. Lawyers for Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, told a coroner on Thursday that disclosing the MI5 files would pose a serious risk to national security. Continue reading...
Aid operations in aftermath of deadly Nepal floods hampered by conditions | First Thing
Guardian reporters in Nepal have witnessed first-hand the scenes of destruction and grief after the flash floods. Plus, a not-to-be-missed interview with the legendary Mr T Good morning. Thousands remain missing and the delivery of aid has been hampered by treacherous conditions in communities almost wiped out of existence by the flash flooding in Nepal and Tibet . A week after the disaster, survivors who fled up mountainsides are still being collected by army helicopters and evacuated. The mountain village of Syabru Besi was among those destroyed, with even the road to the village gone. According to local government officials, at least 500 people there are missing, a quarter of the population. The village resembles nothing more than a muddy riverbed, with just one building left standing. What have Guardian reporters witnessed? Hannah Ellis-Petersen and Gaurav Pokharel have been in Betrawati and Rasuwa districts with the photographer Ahmer Khan. In this video, Ellis-Petersen explains what she has seen alongside haunting footage of the debris. They have spoken to multiple survivors in a region now full of human suffering. Continue reading...
BoM forecasts strongest El Niño on record as research points to ‘alarming’ climate change influence
Bureau of Meteorology suggests El Niño has already broken records, with Pacific ocean temperature change exceeding 2C in six months Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here The growing El Niño weather phenomenon to Australia’s east is already breaking heat records, with forecasts showing it will likely easily surpass previous events, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, as seperate research suggested climate change had greatly shortened the odds of the event hitting record extremes. On Thursday the UN’s weather agency said the event in the Pacific was continuing to strengthen and would probably persist until early 2027, warning it had the “potential to deliver a massive blow to communities and economies across the world”. Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...
Federal judge considers whether to extend ban on USPS mail ballot changes
Judge says US Postal Service has told her nothing about how it plans to regulate mail ballots for midterm elections A federal judge in Boston said on Thursday the US Postal Service had told her nothing about how it would implement a plan to regulate mail ballots for the midterms as she considers whether to let the plan proceed in the weeks before election day. US district court judge Indira Talwani is deciding whether to extend her prohibition on the proposed regulation of mail ballots, an effort undertaken as part of an executive order by Donald Trump. The hearing in the closely watched case came a day before the first state begins sending mail ballots to voters. Continue reading...
US Open 2026: Osaka, Swiatek, Keys and Auger-Aliassime in action on day five – live
The latest updates from Flushing Meadows on day five You can mail Katy and follow us on TikTok and Bluesky Hello, hello! And welcome to our day five coverage of the US Open, where the first round has finally concluded after this week’s rain interruptions and we’ll get the chance to have a second look at the title credentials of Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova and Felix Auger-Aliassime – along with Naomi Osaka’s latest fashion statement and the mania surrounding the Filipino phenom that is Alexandra Eala . Britain’s Fran Jones and Harriet Dart are also in second-round action - Jones has a tough assignment against the home star in the making Iva Jovic and Dart plays the Czech 25th seed Marie Bouzkova - while Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli, Lorenzo Musetti, Madison Keys and Michael Zheng, another rising American , play in the day session too (Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev, Elena Rybakina and Gael Monfils are all in the night session). Continue reading...
US commerce secretary erroneously said no Americans have died in Iran war, Trump claims
President said Howard Lutnick had Venezuela operation on his mind when he was discussing Iran war on CNBC Donald Trump has claimed his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, erroneously stated that no Americans had been killed in the war with Iran because he was thinking about a previous US operation, in Venezuela. The claim, at odds with the Pentagon’s count of 18 US service members dead in the US-Israel war on Iran, sparked a swift backlash as Trump struggles to end the conflict after six months. Continue reading...
Rise of far-right Vannacci poses dilemma for Meloni as she celebrates Italian milestone
Futuro Nazionale’s speedy rise in polls prompts questions over whether PM will return to her roots before election Europe live – latest updates Giorgia Meloni’s government has become the longest-running in Italy since the second world war – a milestone the prime minister is determined not to let pass unnoticed. In the port area of Bari, capital of the southern Italian region of Puglia, where Meloni hosted the G7 in 2024 and where she spends her summer holiday, preparations are well underway for a festival-style showcase of her rightwing administration. Continue reading...
H.R. 4795: Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026
Vote: Passed 237/169 Rep. Krishnamoorthi [D-IL8]: Nay
Martin McDonagh says CIA has ‘done awful things all around the world’
McDonagh’s new film, Wild Horse Nine, stars John Malkovich as an agent in 1970s Chile who feels ‘guilt and regret’ over his role in global interventions The US’s history of intervening in democratic processes around the world deserves more attention in the light of current political developments, playwright and film-maker Martin McDonagh has said, as his Oscar-tipped film about a rueful CIA agent premieres at the Venice film festival. “I’ve been very interested in the truth of what the CIA has been doing over the last 60 years, and the awful things they’ve done all around the world,” McDonagh said about Wild Horse Nine, his first film since his 2022 tragicomedy The Banshees of Inisherin . “I think maybe something that’s not talked about enough. We know what the KGB are like, but we probably don’t question the CIA’s activity as much as we ought to.” Continue reading...
Iran targets US bases as Israel warns sanctions could drive Tehran to ‘desperate steps’
Air bases used by US in the UAE and Kuwait hit as the Israeli defence chief says Iran’s regime fears collapse due to economic pressures Iran has continued to demonstrate an ability to target bases in the Gulf used by the US despite six months of war and a new sanctions regime described by the Trump administration as an “economic D-day”. As Iran’s military targeted US bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, despite threats of further strikes by the US president, Israel’s defence chief warned that economic pressures from the sanctions could lead Tehran to escalate to more “extreme measures”. Continue reading...