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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Vast Beatles museum, hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by Paul McCartney, to open in Liverpool in 2028
City’s Beatles Story museum to move to 100,000 sq ft new home and official ownership, along with Yellow Submarine makeover of Liverpool’s second-tallest building Liverpool is to unveil a new 100,000 sq ft visitor attraction about the Beatles, in plans hailed as “extraordinary” by Paul McCartney, and by Andy Burnham as having “the kind of ambition I want to see more of across Britain”. Opening in 2028, the project is a huge upgrade for the Beatles Story, a museum which opened in Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock in 1990. Ownership will now pass to the Beatles company Apple Corps, making the Beatles Story the band’s first official fan experience in their home city. Continue reading...
‘We really need help’: RSPCA faces capacity crisis as cats arrive faster than they can be rehomed
About 20,000 cats were taken into charity’s care last year, an increase driven in part by pet hoarders There is a cat crisis in rescue centres across the country, the RSPCA has warned, as abandoned felines now outnumber dogs in the charity’s shelters. Cats are arriving in RSPCA centres faster than they can be rehomed, and the charity is asking people across England and Wales to consider adopting. Pet owners are being urged to neuter their cats as kittens are increasingly being found dumped in perilous conditions. Continue reading...
Trump’s obsession with Ilhan Omar has reached a dangerous new level | Arwa Mahdawi
The administration seems intent on stripping the congresswoman of her US citizenship and deporting her. It’s a terrible abuse of power What do you think it is about Ilhan Omar, exactly, that seems to get under Donald Trump’s tangerine-tinted skin? The president has claimed he has a problem with the progressive Democratic congresswoman because she is “unpatriotic” to the US and “disrespectful … to Israel”. However, the extent of his animus towards Omar, the first Somali American in Congress, suggests there’s more to it. Trump has insisted he is “the least racist person there is anywhere in the world”, so I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that she’s brown and Muslim. Truly, it’s a mystery. Whatever the reason, Trump’s not a fan. The president has plenty of enemies, but few have been attacked as ferociously and consistently over the years as Omar. He’s called her “ garbage ”, among other nasty names, suggested (without evidence) that she married her brother, and said she “should be thrown the hell out of our country”. His supporters have echoed his calls to deport Omar, who fled war-torn Somalia as a child and became a naturalised US citizen at 17. Continue reading...
European air fares could rise by as much as 20% in 2027, Ryanair boss predicts
Conflict in Middle East is pushing jet fuel costs higher and many carriers are not hedged against such increases, Michael O’Leary says Ryanair’s chief executive has predicted a record increase in European air fares next year, as airlines grapple with fuel bills pushed higher by the Middle East conflict. Many carriers are not hedged against rising jet fuel costs, Michael O’Leary said, which he predicted would lead to airline bankruptcies and takeovers. He forecast these pressures would result in the price of plane tickets rising by as much as 20%. Continue reading...
Tommy Robinson threatened to publish details about journalist’s family, court told
Andrew Young claims he received ‘menacing’ call from man who introduced himself as Robinson The far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson threatened to publish details about a journalist’s family and warned him that they would have to move home, a court has been told. The alleged threats were said to have been made in a telephone call by Robinson to one of a number of journalists involved in reporting on his activities after the 2024 Southport killings, when he was accused of influencing the subsequent riots. Continue reading...
Paddy Power owner blames tax rises for plan to shed up to 1,400 jobs
Flutter says one in 10 UK and Ireland workers at risk of redundancy because of a ‘material increase in betting and gaming duties’ Business live – latest updates The gambling company behind Paddy Power and SkyBet has announced up to 1,400 job cuts, blaming tax rises imposed by Rachel Reeves. Flutter Entertainment revealed plans on Tuesday to restructure its UK and Ireland division, affecting staff in Leeds, Dublin and Sunderland. Redundancies are also expected to hit offices in Porto in Portugal and Cluj-Napoca in Romania. Continue reading...
Jalen Hurts played through a blood clot. Are NFL players cattle?
The Eagles quarterback’s recent health issues highlight how football’s toughness culture puts its players at risk Jalen Hurts is likely to miss the rest of the season after an ultrasound revealed blood clots in his lungs. Thankfully, he’s now restricted from playing for the immediate future, meaning he won’t be risking serious complications – or even his life – as he did when he played in their Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Hurts complained to the Eagles medical staff of calf pain on 8 October, according to ESPN . The Eagles say that Hurts flew to London with the rest of the team and, out of an “abundance of caution,” was given an ultrasound. The test found a superficial clot in his calf. Doing the ultrasound before the flight would’ve been the most prudent thing. The same for making him inactive after the clot was found. But instead, he played in the game on 11 October, as the medical staff and doctors in London agreed “that activity and mobility were important.” Hurts also practiced all last week before a follow-up ultrasound also found clots in his lungs . Continue reading...
‘I feel like I’m 21’: Joe Ingles on the NBA, life in Australia and 1,500 days without drinking
The veteran is adjusting to living in Melbourne and playing in the NBL after 12 years spent on the North American basketball rollercoaster Basketballer Joe Ingles appears as the archetype of the Australian larrikin. There is one box, however, he no longer ticks. The 39-year-old gave up alcohol in 2022 after suffering a serious knee injury, and he has now gone more than 1,500 days without drinking. “Stopping – that part of it – during rehab was very easy,” he says from Melbourne, after moving back to the NBL following 12 seasons in the NBA. At that point, it was just one aspect of aiding his recovery. Like staying healthy and avoiding junk food. Continue reading...
Actor Christina Applegate reveals she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis
The Married … with Children actor says the news is ‘unnerving’ and ‘really confusing’ Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email After becoming a prominent advocate for multiple sclerosis awareness and chronicling her struggles in an emotional memoir published in March, the Emmy-winning actor Christina Applegate has revealed she does not have the debilitating autoimmune disease after all. Applegate, 54, made the stunning announcement in an episode of her podcast MeSsy, recorded with fellow actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler, posted to YouTube on Tuesday. Continue reading...
Discovery of North Carolina police officers’ alleged racist texts prompts review of arrest records
‘Deeply troubling’ messages came to light during investigation into misuse of Flock camera system Five officers resigned recently from a North Carolina police agency – and a sixth remained suspended – after they allegedly exchanged racist texts. The chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department (CMPD) said the messages came to light during an investigation into misuse of its Flock camera system. Continue reading...
BBC Three and BBC Scotland TV channels to be shut down next year
Corporation announces broadcast closures and job losses in effort to find savings of £500m UK politics live – latest updates The BBC will close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra linear broadcast services in spring 2027 as part of cost-cutting measures. In addition, about 100 jobs will be cut at BBC News, as the corporation faces pressure to make savings of £500m by 2028. Continue reading...
Michigan heckler the son of Republican adviser paid for ‘influencer marketing’ against El-Sayed
Timmy Teepell’s firm paid $250,000 by America Next, which has been trying to gin up ‘organic’ opposition to El-Sayed Man who heckled El-Sayed is former Josh Hawley aide, records show The man who attempted to ambush Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed with a question about his supposed allegiance to the Muslim Brotherhood – which El-Sayed parlayed into a viral clip for his campaign – is the son of a political operator who recently received $250,000 for “canvassing and influencer marketing” against El-Sayed, the Guardian has learned. In the now-famous exchange, a man – first identified by the Handbasket as Thomas “Tommy” Teepell – asked El-Sayed if he would “disavow” the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed said he would, but then asked: “What are you implying? Do you assume that I wouldn’t?” What followed was a five-minute exchange that has drawn over 50 million views across several social media platforms, in which El-Sayed queries the man about the guarantees of religious freedom in the constitution. Continue reading...
Curious black bear wanders around California library, sniffing books and stealing snacks – video
Security cameras captured the moment a black bear walks into the Mammoth Lakes branch of the Mono county free library in California before opening time, reportedly raiding the staff's snack supply and helping itself to a jar of honey. The surprise visit coincided with the 100th anniversary of the publication of AA Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh Black bear breaks into California library to raid snacks and eat jar of honey Continue reading...
US bans use of China’s DeepSeek AI tools by government agencies
Use of tools ‘may result in the transfer of sensitive data to (China)’, defense department says The US government on Monday ordered its agencies to stop using artificial intelligence (AI) tools from Chinese startup DeepSeek , as the countries race for dominance in the fast-moving sector. A notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the ban on products developed by DeepSeek – and tools created using DeepSeek by third parties – saying they must be removed from IT devices. Continue reading...
I’m a CTO. AI still needs your human expertise | Madhu Shashanka
AI is increasingly getting good at doing some tasks, but it can never replace human workers’ judgment Autonomous cars, which may be the safest we have built, keep getting easily avoidable parking tickets. While Waymos crash far less often than human drivers over tens of millions of miles, they’re still terrible at performing basic tasks – keeping out of disabled parking spots and tow-away zones, or steering clear of a church garage during Sunday service, according to the Wall Street Journal . That is the state of AI today: impressively capable at something complex, yet embarrassingly clumsy at something easy. And it has implications for what work will remain human and what will be automated by AI. Madhu Shashanka is co-founder, chief scientist and chief technology officer at Concentric AI, a data security software company Continue reading...
Trump continues midterm campaign blitz in North Carolina – US politics live
President to stump for Michael Whatley, who is facing an uphill battle against Democrat Roy Cooper for the Senate, as elections are just two weeks away Sign up for the Breaking News US email Welcome to the US politics live blog! I’m Shrai Popat and I’ll be bringing you the latest lines from Washington and beyond. We start today with Donald Trump’s upcoming to trip to Greenville, North Carolina – where he’ll stump for Michael Whatley , the Republican nominee for US Senate, facing an uphill battle against Roy Cooper , the state’s former Democratic governor who has consistently led Whatley in the polls for the open seat. Continue reading...
Giving £2 a day to people in the Amazon helps protect rainforest, pilot project finds
Researchers say almost 90% of participants in unconditional basic income scheme in Peru adopted environmentally beneficial practices A pioneering project to provide Indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon with an unconditional basic income has contributed to the protection of the rainforest, according to a study. The analysis from the University of Bath is expected to contribute to a growing debate about the role of direct payments to communities that maintain globally important ecosystems. Continue reading...
Downtown datacenter? AI plan floated for boarded-up San Francisco mall
Developers propose turning San Francisco Centre into not a server-based facility but a ‘community-based AI exhibit’ Downtown San Francisco has shown signs of revival since being battered by the Covid pandemic, which led to what many called a “doom loop” of vacant buildings, a worsening homelessness crisis, and dwindling public transit. But one highly visible reminder of the city’s struggle to recover remains: the San Francisco Centre mall, which sits at the heart of these urban renewal efforts and has been conspicuously boarded up since January of this year. A number of ideas have been floated for the mall’s reopening, including a multi-level sports complex , housing , and more traditional retail uses . But now, another potential plan has emerged: the shuttered mall is being considered for an AI datacenter project, the San Francisco Chronicle reported . Continue reading...
Storm Austen forecast to hit southern UK
Yellow severe weather warning issued for first named storm of season with gusts of up to 60mph expected The first named storm of the season, Austen, is expected to bring gusts of up to 60mph to southern areas of the UK at the end of the week, forecasters said. While there would be spells of rain and showers for many on Tuesday and Wednesday, by Thursday Storm Austen would be approaching the south-west of the UK, the Met Office said. Continue reading...
UK to deploy fighter jets to protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks
RAF Typhoon fighters will fly defensive missions over cities and infrastructure, in extension of UK support for Riyadh RAF Typhoon fighters are to protect Saudi Arabia from attack by Yemen’s Houthis, flying defensive missions over the country’s cities and critical infrastructure, as western allies step up their intervention in the escalating conflict. The operation – the most significant military mission signed off by Andy Burnham as prime minister – will involve RAF pilots attempting to shoot down Houthi missiles and drones, after attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities. Continue reading...
‘It’s the most heartbreaking thing’: the active-duty soldiers who have to visit Texas food banks
Nearly half of enlisted families struggled to afford enough food last year. Congress has known for decades how to solve the problem • This article was produced with the Food & Environment Reporting Network , and supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project The Armed Services YMCA in Harker Heights, Texas, is a state-of-the-art facility, with a swimming pool, gym and coffee shop. There’s also a food pantry tucked away in a small room at the far end of a hallway on the second floor, where active-duty soldiers stationed nearby at Fort Hood can receive free groceries. More than a dozen pantries surround the army base, where about 40,000 soldiers are stationed. The pantry’s parking lot is where I found Miguel Pérez on a July morning, lugging a heavy reusable grocery bag to his pickup under the already blazing central Texas sun. Continue reading...
UK government failures led to Covid spreading ‘like wildfire’ in care homes, inquiry finds
Inquiry chair says failure to advise care homes to isolate people discharged from hospital was ‘significant oversight’ • UK politics live – latest updates The care sector was “an afterthought” during the Covid-19 pandemic, and government failures caused the virus to spread “like wildfire” among vulnerable and elderly people, a public inquiry has found. Heather Hallett, who is leading the Covid-19 inquiry, said it was a “significant omission” that the government did not advise that patients discharged from hospitals into care homes should be isolated, causing the virus to spread rapidly among residents and staff. Continue reading...
Solder-darity forever: how ‘fixit’ clubs are helping Americans save money and make new friends
Community repair clinics around the country are teaching people how to fix their belongings and push back against throwaway culture On a recent Monday night, a volunteer-run workspace in Brooklyn, New York, bustled with dozens of fixers. Some tinkered with sewing machines while others soldered circuit boards at a workbench. Caleb Young, co-founder of the Brooklyn Spark space, fit a DIY suction device on to the handle of a Dyson vacuum cleaner. “It’s in our culture to throw things away, but sometimes the fix is easier than you’d think,” Young said. Continue reading...
Thames Water creditors secure former Labour minister to drive rescue deal
Stricken UK water supplier lines up John Hutton as independent chair designate if takeover goes ahead The group of Thames Water creditors pursuing a £10bn rescue deal for Britain’s largest water supplier has lined up a former senior Labour minister to chair the company, as it tries to win over the government. The creditor consortium, called London & Valley Water, said on Tuesday that Lord John Hutton had been selected as independent chair designate of the Thames Water board, if the consortium’s takeover of the utility goes ahead. Continue reading...