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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Duchess of Sussex ‘deeply distressed’ over child sexual abuse image claims against father
Meghan also reveals she was made aware of ‘disturbing allegations’ against him in 2018 by Met police The Duchess of Sussex has said she is “deeply distressed” over accusations involving child sexual abuse images against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, and revealed she was made aware of “disturbing allegations” against him in 2018 by the Metropolitan police. Meghan issued a statement after the Sun newspaper published claims that her half-brother Thomas Markle Jr alleged he had found a stash of images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines. Continue reading...
F1 crown in reach for Kimi Antonelli at bumpy Austin circuit drivers insist is ‘unacceptable’
Mercedes youngster could become youngest title winner Max Verstappen says bumpy track makes drivers ‘suffer’ The Formula One world championship is within reach for Kimi Antonelli at the US Grand Prix in Austin this weekend. But while the young Italian approaches the race intending simply to have fun, there is disquiet among other drivers about the potential long-term health dangers posed by the state of the Texas circuit. The 20-year-old Antonelli will become Formula One’s youngest world champion if he claims the title at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, eclipsing Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2010, when the German driver was 23 and Antonelli was four. Continue reading...
Puppy love: Finnish 24-hour newborn pup livestream is TV smash hit
Show features live chat sessions with breeders, a podcast and updates on dogs’ progress from birth to weigh-ins A 24-hour Finnish TV show dedicated entirely to the live progress of a dog and her six newborn puppies is drawing millions of viewers. As well as a 24-hour webcam, Pentulive (Puppy Live) includes live evening chat sessions with the dogs’ breeder, a podcast and an instant notification service that updates followers on the puppies’ progress – from their birth to weigh-ins and first nail trims – for eight weeks. Continue reading...
The Trump-Putin love story’s next chapter: selling out Ukraine | Sidney Blumenthal
The US president is portraying Zelenskyy as the villain as he strives for Russia’s approval If Donald Trump could, he would fly to Munich to sign away Ukraine to Vladimir Putin, and return to wave the document as “peace in our time”, hoping to claim at least the second Fifa peace prize. Whatever the complicated motives of Neville Chamberlain, his well-grounded fear after the carnage of a world war of another apocalypse and his wishful thinking that Hitler would be satiated after carving up Czechoslovakia, Chamberlain had not sent his son-in-law and former golf partner and real estate partner in advance to cut back-end deals with the Nazis to profit for his family and cronies. Sidney Blumenthal, former senior adviser to Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published three books of a projected five-volume political life of Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man , Wrestling With His Angel and All the Powers of Earth . He is a Guardian US columnist and co-host of the Court of History podcast Continue reading...
Billionaire tax and trans rights: what are key state ballot initiatives in midterms?
Voters in 39 states will face an array of referendum issues – including Alabama’s on the national anthem in schools Americans heading to the polls for next month’s midterm elections are not just choosing whom to send to Washington, or their state capitols. There are also 145 statewide measures on ballots across 39 states, polling voters on actions from a novel wealth tax on California’s billionaires to requiring Alabama’s public schools to broadcast or perform the first stanza of the national anthem each week. Voters in Idaho, Nevada and Virginia are asked to protect abortion rights; voters in Missouri are asked to give those rights back. Property tax issues appear on dozens of state ballots. Several state referendums ask voters to bar trans athletes from competing in women’s sports, or bar gender-affirming medical care for minors. Continue reading...
These key races in the 2026 midterms will decide who controls the US Senate – video explainer
To reclaim control of the Senate, Democrats need to retain all the Senate seats they have and flip four more in the 2026 midterm elections. Shrai Popat, the Guardian's US politics reporter, explains which are the key races to watch in November. Continue reading...
Detective raped by fellow officer David Carrick calls on Met chief to resign
Linda Williams says police force’s handling of her attack in 2004 was ‘like being raped all over again’ A detective who was raped by the former Scotland Yard officer David Carrick has called for the head of the Metropolitan police to resign, saying the handling of her case was “like being raped all over again”. Linda Williams, 60, who has waived her right to anonymity, was attacked by Carrick in 2004. She launched a legal case against the Met for failing to protect her against the serial rapist, and has now settled for an undisclosed six-figure sum without the force admitting liability. Continue reading...
Boom in weight-loss drugs could lead to drop in beer sales, Heineken warns British pubs
World’s second largest brewer says use of drugs such as Wegovy can reduce desire to drink alcohol Heineken has warned British bars and pubs that the boom in popularity of weight-loss drugs could lead to a fall in sales of beer and cider. The world’s second largest brewer sent a presentation to British hospitality customers earlier this month warning that GLP-1 use – led by Ozempic and Wegovy – can reduce the desire to drink alcohol , which could lead to “fullness and fewer serves” of pints in pubs and bars. Continue reading...
America must reverse Trump’s moral squalor | Robert Reich
The president shows a unique disregard for the opinions, norms and ideals of the nation – and, for that matter, humanity The Democrats’ focus on affordability seems to be a winning strategy (we’ll know for sure in a little over two weeks). But we mustn’t lose sight of the moral squalor at the core of the Trump regime and the necessity of ending it. It’s that moral squalor – the utter disregard for the opinions, norms and ideals of the nation and, for that matter, of humanity – that uniquely marks Trump and the reprobates he has attracted to Washington. It has also poisoned much of the Republican party, including the billionaires and tech bros who finance it. Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Guardian US columnist and his newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com . His new book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America, is out now in the US and in the UK Continue reading...
Briton facing forced separation from baby son after Sweden orders his deportation
Exclusive: Photographer Simon Montgomery told ‘state’s interest in regulated immigration’ outweighs his family concerns UK politics live – latest updates Europe live – latest updates A British photographer is facing deportation from Sweden and forced separation from his 16-month-old son after authorities ruled in favour of the country’s immigration interests . Simon Montgomery’s application to remain after the birth of his son last year was rejected on multiple grounds by the country’s migration agency, a decision that was then upheld by the migration court. Continue reading...
Severe flooding in eastern Spain, while UK hit by first named storm of winter
Storm Adam brings heavy rain to Valencia, Alicante and Balearic Islands, as Storm Austen gusts strike England and Wales Storm Adam brought torrential rain to eastern Spain earlier this week. In Pego, Alicante, 632mm fell in 36 hours with 430mm of this falling in just six hours, while the Valencian town of Olivia received 600mm in 24 hours. As a result, 145 municipalities, approximately 850,000 people, across Valencia and Alicante were placed in a temporary lockdown on Monday due to the severe flooding. At least five people have died and 500 have been rescued and 2,100 evacuated. The storm also affected the Balearic Islands, with more than 130 incidents recorded in Ibiza including standing water at the airport, which caused some flights to be diverted or suspended. Although the worst of the storm has passed and conditions improving across Valencia and Alicante, local disruption is expected to continue. Continue reading...
Government won’t put together ‘shopping list’ for public to stockpile for emergency – UK politics live
Ministers have repeated several warnings in the last 18 months about the threat of hybrid attacks from overseas Andy Burnham has been meeting armed forces veterans and Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal collectors to mark the start of the year’s campaign. Burnham welcomed them to Number 10 North’s office in central Manchester, contrary to the usual convention of making a donation to the cause on the steps of Number 10 in Downing Street. Continue reading...
Starlink access for Ukraine limited after Trump’s claims satellite service restored, officials say – Europe live
The satellite service was still operating at a cap of 161km/hr, crippling key air defences A war of words has erupted between the Trump administration , officials in Kyiv and Elon Musk over who is to blame for limiting Ukraine’s access to Space X’s military-grade version of Starlink. The restrictions to Starshield have rendered many of the drones used by Kyiv to strike behind the frontlines inoperable and hampered air defence systems that stop Russian attacks, according to Ukrainian officials . The US president said on Thursday that the service was running again at full speed, but a European official speaking to the Associated Press denied the service was fully functioning. What has Trump said? Trump initially denied any responsibility for the changes to Starshield, telling reporters last Friday: “I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” referring to Musk, SpaceX’s CEO. The president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr Musk. That’s a private company. The president doesn’t run that company and can’t direct that company to do anything. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS. So I don’t think this is about Elon. I think it’s fundamentally what is America’s policy in Ukraine and Russia going to be. Continue reading...
World Series 2026 predictions: will the Rays or Brewers claim their first title?
It’s Milwaukee and Tampa Bay in the 122nd Fall Classic. Our writers predict how it will be decided, who will shine brightest and who will break their World Series maiden Yes - and in fact, evidence that money actively undermines baseball happiness. For the big-market teams, anything less than a World Series is disappointing. Whereas for the Rays (who in April were given a 1.1% chance of winning the World Series by FanGraphs) or Brewers (2.1%), the season is already a success, and winning it all would give their fans more pleasure than a Yankees or Dodgers fan could ever experience. Alan Evans Continue reading...
Retail sales in Great Britain fall as struggling households cut back
Latest negative economic update comes as John Healey is due to announce budget next week Business live – latest updates Retail sales in Great Britain fell more steeply than expected last month, the latest negative economic update before the chancellor, John Healey, announces his budget next week. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of goods sold fell 0.4% month on month in September, much steeper than economists’ consensus expectations of a 0.1% fall. Continue reading...
India slashes cost of cancer drugs after court rules mark-ups are ‘extortion’
Case filed in 2022 by patient unable to afford medicine leads to cap on drug prices for millions who face ruin if diagnosed The Indian government has moved to reduce the price of cancer drugs after a retired bank clerk took her case to the supreme court. From next month, 137 cancer drugs in India will be cheaper as the government tries to tackle the tragedy of poorer patients either forgoing treatment, selling land or falling into debt to meet the high cost of some medicines, which are making large profits for hospitals and pharmacists. Continue reading...
Jordon Steele-John’s position remains in limbo as Greens prepare for moment in spotlight
David Shoebridge’s newly-minted leadership under pressure over handling of misconduct allegations as Senate estimates looms More than a week after allegations that Greens senator Jordon Steele-John had behaved inappropriately towards women made headlines, his position in the party remains in limbo and its new leader’s handling of the issue in question. David Shoebridge ’s first major challenge at the helm of the federal Greens came earlier this month when the Nine newspapers reported a three-page letter had been sent to him urging an independent investigation into Steele-John. Continue reading...
EU leaders to press Burnham to pay more towards Ukraine’s defence
Officials will call on UK to ‘step up’ financial support at Brussels summit – with post-Brexit issues also on agenda EU leaders will press Andy Burnham at a summit in Brussels to contribute more to Ukraine’s defence effort in 2027. EU officials argue that the UK, Canada and Japan should do more to support Ukraine, but entreaties to these G7 countries for extra financial aid at recent international meetings have not been answered, Brussels says. Continue reading...
‘We’ve lost a basic sense of politeness’: UK readers reveal daily reality of public transport
Regular users detail their frustrations – and question whether Andy Burnham’s crackdown on antisocial behaviour will actually work Andy Burnham has announced a campaign against nuisance behaviour on public transport, including “headphone dodgers” who play loud music . “We’ve all been on the train when someone starts blasting music or videos from their phone,” Burnham said in a statement. “It gets on your nerves and can quickly spoil the journey.” Continue reading...
Friday briefing: How a leaderless student group is challenging power in Serbia
In today’s newsletter: Born from the fury surrounding the deadly Novi Sad station collapse, Serbia’s Student List has taken its protests all the way to the elections in an unprecedented grassroots campaign Good morning. As waves of youth-led protests swell across Europe, prompted by the cost of living, unaffordable housing and education standards, in Serbia the younger generation is taking on the apparatus of the state itself. In tight-run parliamentary elections this Sunday, the country’s most consequential political movement in decades, Student List, is challenging former Slobodan Milošević henchman Aleksandar Vučić and his 12-year domination of Serbian politics. UK news | Every Briton is being urged to stock up to nine litres of bottled water and three days’ worth of food in new government guidance designed to ensure that households can survive a weather, cyber or other serious emergency. Ukraine | Russia has carried out a massive “demonstrative” attack on Ukraine, bombarding Kyiv with ballistic missiles just hours after Vladimir Putin said he had agreed to resume trilateral negotiations. UK politics | Nigel Farage’s newest billionaire donor was in business with a powerful Iranian religious foundation under the authority of the country’s supreme leader. Europe news | Emmanuel Macron has said “illegitimate” demonstrations will be banned over the coming days as France seeks to get a grip on civil unrest after some of its worst street violence in years. Energy | Great Britain is expected to pay some of the highest energy costs in Europe this winter as its reliance on imports to ensure a steady supply is forecast to deepen. Continue reading...
Some of Europe’s highest energy costs expected in Britain this winter
Official forecasts show country will meet energy demand by paying high prices to secure imports Great Britain is expected to pay some of the highest energy costs in Europe this winter as its reliance on imports to ensure a steady supply is forecast to deepen. Energy system operators have said the country will have enough gas and electricity to meet demand over the coldest months – in part because of paying higher market prices than neighbouring markets to secure imports. Continue reading...
Britain’s gas security needs reinforcement. Last-minute deals with Belgium are not a proper fix
The UK still imports 60% of its gas and, even with Jackdaw, its energy supply and resilience problems are not going away After the overdue approval of the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, here comes a reminder that Britain still imports almost 60% of its gas and the stuff has to come from somewhere. We’re now doing a deal with Belgium to ensure enough supply can flow through a connecting pipeline this winter should a “low-probability but high-impact stress event”, to quote the regulatory mouthful, occur. To be fair, the arrangement to maintain capacity from Belgium is a belt-and-braces measure. The imagined events do sound genuinely stressful and may never happen. A critical piece of infrastructure, such as the two import terminals in Milford Haven to bring in liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Britain, would have to be out of action during a prolonged cold snap in which demand is very high. Continue reading...
Imagine if, for once, Labour decided to tell the truth about immigration | Gaby Hinsliff
Our economy needs it. The NHS needs it. And making foreign workers’ lives more miserable – as the home secretary plans to do – will undermine integration My mum’s carer was uncharacteristically late one morning. She didn’t want to say why at first, but it turned out she’d found her previous client – an elderly lady living all alone, with no family to visit – collapsed on the floor, barely alive. It was a lot to cope with for someone only in their early 20s, a reminder of the heavy responsibility this job carries. Watching the carers who helped both my parents in their respective final weeks taught me that while the work itself might seem mundane, the emotional and social skills needed to do it well – to coax some sense out of the confused, to jolly along the lonely, and to soothe the dying, to walk in and out of unfamiliar houses all day long without quite knowing what you might find – are anything but. Yet like so many jobs predominantly done by women, care has long been relentlessly undervalued. That means lousy pay, little public recognition, and now – at least for the disproportionately large chunk of this workforce who are migrant workers – the disorientating realisation that the government can snap its fingers and all your life plans are upended overnight. Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Milan braces for more unrest as debate intensifies over Italy’s ‘lost generation’
Protests and fringe violence expose sharp divide between marginalised and immigrant youth and those with greater prospects Martina Miccichè was filming riot police kicking and beating a teenager with batons as they dragged him along Piazza del Duomo, the central Milan square hosting its cathedral, when she was struck by a flying object, causing a deep gash and bruising near her right eye. The journalist had joined hundreds of mostly young people marching through the northern Italian city on Saturday afternoon to protest over soaring living costs and unaffordable housing, echoing the wider wave of economic discontent fuelling protests across Europe. Continue reading...