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Politics
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Missouri UPS worker two weeks from retirement fatally struck by company vehicle
Paul Roberts, who was employed by UPS for 44 years, was working at a customer care center when he was struck A longtime United Parcel Service (UPS) employee less than two weeks away from retiring was struck and killed by one of the company’s vehicles while he was at work in St Louis, triggering a federal labor investigation along with an intense outpouring of grief from his family and colleagues. Paul Roberts, 63, was on duty at the UPS customer care center in Earth City, Missouri , on the night of 4 September when a company vehicle hit him, authorities said. Continue reading...
9/11 families to gather at World Trade Center and Pentagon to remember victims on 25th anniversary – US politics live
Victims of those killed in September 11 attacks honored at memorials across the US Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. It is the 25th anniversary of 9/11, as Americans come together to remember and commemorate the devastating effects of the attacks, which claimed the lives of 2,977 victims. Donald Trump doubled down on his pledge to pay all US adults $5,000 if Republicans hold on to control of Congress in the midterm elections. He’s one of the few people to actually mention the pledge tonight, as many lawmakers and officials – including his vice-president, JD Vance – avoided mentioning the so-called “dividend” altogether. Trump defended his plan: “We can do that because our country has never done better. We’re taking in trillions, trillions of dollars.” In a shorter address to voters than his nearly two-hour speech on Wednesday, Trump again pleaded with voters to “pretend I’m on the ticket” in November. In an improvised pledge of allegiance to himself, Trump directed the audience to commit to voting in the midterm elections at all costs. The president asked Republicans in the arena to repeat: “I don’t care if I’m registered or not. I’m going to try. And cheat like hell like they do.” Trump also told those gathered in Dallas that they would “go to hell” if they didn’t vote. Earlier, JD Vance urged Republicans who may oppose parts of the Trump administration’s agenda not to abandon the party in November’s congressional races. The vice-president pointed to Charlie Kirk – the conservative activist killed a year ago today – to argue that voters shouldn’t “throw the baby out with the bathwater” over “a policy issue here or there”, an apparent nod to dissent over the Iran war that he avoided naming. Vance’s speech, in many ways, was an audition for a possible 2028 presidential run. He spent much of his time on stage setting out the threats of the so-called “far left”, listing the administration’s greatest hits and slamming Joe Biden’s tenure in office. Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the arena to protest Trump’s policy agenda. Dallas police said that two people were taken into custody after an alleged assault involving a counter-protester and for blocking a roadway. Continue reading...
Emma Bonino, radical Italian politician who stood up to Vatican, dies aged 78
Militant feminist led campaigns to legalise abortion and divorce and went on to become foreign minister Emma Bonino, the radical Italian politician who led campaigns to legalise abortion and divorce against the objections of the Vatican, has died aged 78. “Today we lose not only our leader but also one of the most clear-sighted, courageous and free figures in the political history of our country,” the small party she founded, More Europe, said on Facebook on Friday. Continue reading...
Pochettino’s ‘different’ vow to the US invites unwelcome speculation
The US manager’s relationship with the international job has changed with a full World Cup cycle beginning I hope, in this lifetime, you find someone who loves you the way Mauricio Pochettino loves Tottenham Hotspur. The grip Spurs have on his heart seems the stuff of a literary classic: his imperfect partner who called things off at the first sign of trouble must merely check in on him occasionally to rekindle hopes of a reunion. Perhaps a bit extreme, but this week’s revelation – that he’d return to Tottenham even if they were relegated and chalking his absence up to imperfect timing, not the part about handing the club a decade-old title – has implicity laid out the terms of his return as United States manager. Others may always have interest in his services, and a certain North London suitor will never get the door slammed in their face outright. Continue reading...
Springboks v All Blacks a US World Cup preview in Baltimore as thrilling series goes down to the wire
‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ will culminate on US soil on Saturday, a staging post on the road to America hosting the World Cup in 2031 When New Zealand and South Africa kick off at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, there will be more at stake than victory in “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry”, the four-Test series the Springboks lead 2-1 . For World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, the game is a key staging post on the road to the 2031 World Cup, which the US will host – a journey that could include Six Nations games on American soil . “We’ve been in a long process with venues and cities, over the last two years,” Gilpin said, of the build to World Cup kick-off. “We’ve still got 25-plus cities involved in that process, which is fantastic in terms of engagement and enthusiasm. Continue reading...
Weather tracker: Hurricane Lowell pounds Hawaii’s western islands
Widespread damage across Ni’ihau, Kaua’i and O’ahu after reportedly first-ever recorded tornado watch in Hawaii Hurricane Lowell caused significant damage to Hawaii’s western islands this week. On Tuesday night the centre of Lowell tracked 50 miles (80km) from the island of Ni’ihau in Kauai County as a category 2 storm with winds of up to 110mph. The strong winds resulted in widespread power outages across Ni’ihau, and the islands of Kaua’i and O’ahu. The event was particularly notable because a tornado watch had been issued for Kaua’i on Monday night and into Tuesday morning. According to research maps from Iowa State University, it was likely to be the first-ever recorded tornado watch in Hawaii’s history. In the event, a tornado was not documented, however hurricanes can produce tornadoes and most often occur in thunderstorms within rain bands away from the centre of the hurricane. Currently, five named stormed have occurred in the central Pacific with the strong El Niño this year being a key driver in the above normal hurricane season, as noted by the National Weather Service. Continue reading...
Pressure grows on Burnham to commit to increasing statutory paternity leave
Exclusive: Calls from Labour grow as 105 MPs write to PM urging ‘obvious’ step to alleviate cost of living crisis Andy Burnham is coming under increasing pressure from his own MPs to commit to improving paternity leave in the UK in the next budget, with more than a quarter of Labour MPs writing to the prime minister to urge him to take action. Ahead of the chancellor’s first budget next month, 105 MPs have written to Burnham calling on him to increase statutory paternity leave to help alleviate the cost of living crisis and arguing that lowest-paid fathers are the hardest hit by meagre paternity leave provision. Continue reading...
Five-set tennis is under attack. Killing it would be a colossal unforced error | Andrew Lawrence
Five-set matches are physically punishing, occasionally absurd and increasingly under threat. They also produce much of what makes grand slam tennis great Tuesday night’s quarter-final match between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz had everything a US Open spectacle could ask for: huge stakes, knife-edge drama, top-shelf competition and an American hero who comes through in the end. The only fault to find was really the matter of time. The first ball wasn’t struck until 11.05 in the evening, and Shelton’s clinching ace didn’t come until 3.33 in the morning – marking, after a total of 4hr 28min on court, the latest-ending US Open match by a whopping 43 minutes. Somewhat predictably, the discourse among media and fans following the late-night match has swiftly moved on from the USTA’s misadventures in scheduling to a referendum on the five-set match and whether it should be put out to pasture. For the record: that would be a colossal unforced error. Continue reading...
Remembrance ceremonies to be held across the US to honor victims of 9/11
Memorials and remembrances will mark the 25 years since the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 on 11 September 2001 The United States is marking the 25th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on Friday, with memorials and remembrance ceremonies taking place across the country to honor the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks. In New York City , the national September 11 memorial and museum will hold its annual commemoration ceremony, with the families of victims gathering at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and reading aloud the names of those killed in the 9/11 attacks and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Continue reading...
MPs to vote again on assisted dying as bill returns to parliament – UK politics live
Bill would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to end their lives, after the approval of a panel of experts Morning, and welcome to our UK politics blog. The assisted dying bill is back in the Commons today, where MPs will vote on a proposal that would allow adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to seek medical assistance to end their lives. MPs had previously voted through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, brought forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, in June 2025, but it foundered in the House of Lords earlier this year after opponents tabled more than 1,280 amendments. Prime minister Andy Burnham has confirmed he will not vote, saying he does not want to “unduly influence the debate”. Continue reading...
Russia accused of ‘rapidly growing’ attacks on civilian infrastructure after five killed in Ukraine – Europe live
Ukraine’s foreign minister says Russia is deliberately targeting civilians The Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad marks a day of mourning today after a Russian attack killed five people yesterday, with two more killed and 79 injured in total in the wider Dnipropetrovsk region. “This is another crime by Russia against peaceful people. Those who lived, worked, and raised children. Russian attacks bring death and destruction to our cities and villages,” Dnipropetrovsk governor Oleksandr Hanzha said. Continue reading...
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan cool on NFL return to Australia: ‘I just don’t like to travel’
San Francisco boss hesitant for team to play another game in Melbourne LA Rams head coach Sean McVay refuses to blame travel plan for loss Victorious San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he loves Australia, the “gladiator-ish” MCG and its surface, the local hospitality and the country’s NFL fans, even if he may not want to play another game so far away from home. After the 49ers’ 27-7 victory over the LA Rams in the first NFL match in Australia, the 46-year-old revealed he wants to come back to holiday and see more of the country than this week’s goldfish bowl routine of hotel-to-practice-to-hotel would allow. Continue reading...
UK economy defies forecasts with surprise 0.4% growth in July
Unexpected GDP rise comes as borrowing costs and inflation risks mount ahead of Healey’s first budget The UK economy grew in July despite the fallout from the Iran war, in welcome news for John Healey ahead of next month’s budget. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a 0.4% increase in gross domestic product (GDP), compared with 0.3% growth in June. Continue reading...
Australian fuel prices set to rise by 30c as global markets react to ‘deadly cocktail’
Global oil price at its highest since May while investors dump stocks and bonds after Donald Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ promise Fuel prices are on track to climb a further 20 to 30 cents over coming weeks as the escalating Middle East conflict pushed the global oil price to its highest since mid-May. As investors dumped stocks and bonds in an increasingly febrile environment, Donald Trump’s promise to give every US adult citizen a $US5,000 “dividend” after the November mid-terms added to alarm around the parlous state of the country’s finances. Continue reading...
Mistakes, mistrust and misdirection: 25 years after 9/11, its dark legacy continues to unfold
The world’s most powerful country responded to the worst terrorist attack in its history by inflicting terror of its own – around the world, and at home As clear as that cloudless September morning, Jenna Jacobs McPartland remembers the moment everything changed. “I was cleaning the bathroom and watching the Today show in the background and nine months pregnant,” the 52-year-old recalls by phone. “I think they were showing ‘Today throws a wedding’ when the news broke in.” A plane had hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York. McPartland did not know that her husband, Ariel Jacobs, was attending a conference at its Windows on the World restaurant . “I called his office to say, ‘Hey, turn on the TV. Do you guys know what’s going on?’ His assistant said, ‘Oh my God, Jenna, he’s there.’ The whole world disappeared and there was this sort of hollow collapsing feeling.” Continue reading...
Solheim Cup golf 2026: day one – live
⛳️ Solheim Cup updates from 6.40am BST at Bernardus Golf ⛳️ Live scorecard | Send your thoughts to Scott via via email The Solheim Cup has delivered in spades recently. Bronte Law leading the charge as Europe snatched victory from under the USA’s nose at Gleneagles ; the Leona Maguire Show ; ♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫; Lilia Vu’s birdie-birdie finish to hold off an unexpected European comeback and finally reclaim the cup for America . Any repeat of any of the above … yes please, we’ll take it! … and this year’s tournament is off to a flyer, with Europe’s two biggest draws facing the world number one and a former US Open champion in the opening foursomes. This promises to be epic. It’s early, so make yourself a strong cup of tea and strap in, because … it’s on! Continue reading...
Diana’s ‘revenge dress’, worn when Charles revealed infidelity, up for auction
Christina Stambolian dress from 1994 has defined a whole category of fashion and is expected to fetch up to £220,000 The dress that Diana, Princess of Wales wore one September evening in 1994 would have been memorable for its design alone – black, fitted, off-the-shoulder, skintight and short. However, it has another distinction, of defining a whole category of fashion – what has since become known as “revenge dressing”. Worn by Diana the same night Charles would reveal his infidelity on TV, the dress was quickly labelled “the revenge dress” by the media. It has its own Wikipedia page , with the same title. Continue reading...
Speed up electricity grid upgrade or else face higher bills, warns UK watchdog
National Audit Office says failure to implement £70bn modernisation would also hold back economic growth The ‘great grid upgrade’ is off track – ministers should spell out the risks for bills Consumers will pay higher energy bills unless the UK government speeds up work on a vast programme of upgrades to the electricity grid to enable the switch to renewables, the public spending watchdog has warned. The National Audit Office (NAO) said that without faster action the extra costs associated with managing the ageing power network, which are ultimately passed on to the public, could reach £7.8bn a year by 2030. Continue reading...
Iceland to submit bill that could ban whaling in its waters
The country is one of just three that still permits commercial whaling, while its government has faced mounting pressure to ban the practice Iceland will submit a bill in February 2027 which could permanently ban whaling in its waters, a move that would leave Norway and Japan as the only two countries to permit commercial whaling. Whaling in Iceland has been put under intense scrutiny since a government-commissioned report was published in 2023 that found harpooned whales took two hours to die. The report led to a temporary suspension of the hunt that year. Continue reading...
NSW police settle trespass case after visiting Indigenous children’s home 150 times in 20 months
Trespass case launched by two mothers settled after officers often went to families’ houses between midnight and 4am Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Two Indigenous mothers have settled a trespass case against New South Wales police, after officers turned up at one of their homes 150 times in 20 months to conduct bail checks on her sons. The case, which was launched against NSW police in April 2024, was settled on confidential terms three weeks before it was to go to trial in the supreme court. Continue reading...
‘I’m on the ticket’: Trump implores Republicans to vote in November at unusual midterm convention
The president demonised Democrats in an attempt to wangle votes in midterms despite backlash over Iran war With his approval rating at a historic low, Donald Trump has brought down the curtain on the Republicans ’ first ever midterm convention by pleading with supporters to do him “the biggest favour” and “pretend” they are voting for him in November’s US elections . The president is facing a growing backlash over rising prices and the war in Iran. Sweeping losses for the Republican party could effectively turn Trump into a lame duck for his final two years in the White House. Continue reading...
$15m fund launched to create ‘unstoppable momentum’ to end FGM worldwide
Her Horizon Fund seeks $100m to stop practice harming 230m women and girls globally Frontline activists and leaders in the fight against female genital mutilation, which has affected more than 230 million women and girls worldwide , have welcomed an unprecedented $15.5m (£11.4m) fund aimed at creating “unstoppable momentum” to finally end the practice. The launch of the fund comes as women’s rights are increasingly under attack and donor funding is in sharp decline, particularly for work led by FGM survivors in local communities. It is thought to be the largest single philanthropic contribution to ending the practice of FGM. Continue reading...
Customers of UK-owned surrogacy firm in Mexico allegedly face huge bills after insurance denied
UK government reviewing allegations about My Surrogacy Journey after complaints about medical costs The UK government has said it is reviewing allegations about a British-owned surrogacy service after surrogates in Mexico who faced health complications including a hysterectomy had their insurance claims rejected. The Department of Health and Social Care is considering whether the UK-based provider My Surrogacy Journey should remain listed on gov.uk as one of four domestic surrogacy agencies available to intended parents, after its Mexican sister company received complaints. Continue reading...
Reform UK beset by internal row over response to Dover and Portsmouth protests
Nigel Farage said demonstrators in balaclavas were ‘horrible’, but others in the party defend them as ‘brave, passionate patriots’ Nigel Farage’s condemnation of the masked men whose blockade of Dover stole headlines on the final day of his party’s annual conference was swift, describing their actions as “horrible”. Yet less than a week on from the public debut of the black-clad members of Patriot Platform , Reform is gripped with internal friction over the activists. There has been unease among some members and councillors about Farage’s criticism and some outright praise for the group as “patriots”. Continue reading...