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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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ICE agents broke US citizen’s arm as they detained him in California, officials say
Ricardo Gonzalez was injured and taken to hospital after confrontation in Long Beach, according to officials Federal immigration agents broke the arm of a US citizen in what a Democratic congressman said was a “brutal attack” during a confrontation with protesters in California. Video of Saturday’s encounter in Long Beach shows Ricardo Gonzalez, identified as a former city employee, handcuffed and face down in a gutter, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) officers kneeling on his back. Continue reading...
Ellie Goulding admits error over promoting diamonds from controversial Australian mine
Singer ‘mortified’ about wearing diamonds from Argyle mine at centre of environmental concerns about Indigenous land The singer Ellie Goulding has admitted her error at having promoted diamonds at the centre of environmental concerns about Indigenous land in Australia, despite having spent years campaigning on environmental issues – including the effects of mining on ancestral lands. She appeared at a event in London earlier this month for the jewellery brand Boodles, modelling some of its newly acquired pink diamonds , some of which came from a controversial mine in Western Australia. Continue reading...
Airman who died in rappelling accident at Texas college football game identified
US military says Tech Sgt Ian Patterson was killed after he fell from rafters at University of Texas at San Antonio game The US military has identified the air force officer who died after he fell from the rafters of the Alamodome during a rappelling demonstration before the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)’s home game against Navy on Saturday. He was Tech Sgt Ian Patterson, a tactical air control party instructor assigned to the sixth combat training squadron, detachment two, at Joint Base San Antonio. Continue reading...
Tommy Robinson used ‘bullyboy, intimidatory tactics’ to threaten journalists, court told
Far-right activist is charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence to two MailOnline reporters The far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson used “bullyboy, intimidatory tactics” to threaten journalists and cause them to fear for their safety, a court has been told as his harassment trial got under way. Robinson, 42, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence to two MailOnline reporters, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. He denies all charges. Continue reading...
Stop ‘cash for trash’ housebuilding in Norfolk Broads, says Labour MP
Exclusive: Chris Hinchcliff urges environment watchdog to block rules that will allow almost 16,000 new homes in one of UK’s most protected areas The environment watchdog is being urged to intervene in “cash to trash” planning rules that will allow almost 16,000 new homes in the Norfolk Broads despite the damage to one of the UK’s most environmentally protected areas. Labour’s flagship planning reforms allow damage to protected habitats and species to be overlooked if developers pay into a central nature restoration fund, which is used for conservation actions at a later date. These environmental delivery plans (EDPs) have been dubbed “cash to trash” by critics , who say they roll back decades of environmental law and are a “licence to kill nature”. Continue reading...
Youth services in parts of England in state of emergency, children’s commissioner says
Rachel de Souza names Middlesbrough and Hounslow among hardest places in which to grow up and says some children are being ‘radically failed’ Services for children in parts of England are in a “state of emergency”, according to a report that identifies what it claims to be the hardest places in the country for young people to grow up in. The children’s commissioner, Rachel de Souza, said in some local authorities individual service failures or systemic problems meant “no child could reasonably be expected to thrive and those that do thrive do so against the odds”. Continue reading...
Russell Brand had ‘maniacal grin’ as he dragged woman into toilet and raped her, court told
Comedian, who is on trial at Southwark crown court, allegedly sexually assaulted woman within minute of meeting her Russell Brand had a “weird maniacal” grin on his face like a clown when he grabbed a woman’s breasts before dragging her into a toilet and raping her, a court has heard. The 51-year-old comedian is accused of orally raping the MTV worker as he told her: “You want to do this,” and: “Come on, don’t be a spoilsport.” Continue reading...
Third Ebola case in Kenya highlights US failures amid Trump cuts to key services
Opposition to US-led quarantine center in Kenya follows sweeping funding cuts and withdrawal from WHO A third person in Kenya has tested positive for Bundibugyo ebolavirus in the country’s first-ever cluster of Ebola cases, as the second-largest outbreak in history kills more than 4,300 and sickens more than 9,000 people in the region. It highlights the diminished role the US has played in the worsening Ebola outbreak by building a controversial quarantine center in Kenya, pulling back health support globally, and banning travelers from certain countries. All of this has also reduced the ability to identify and respond to the outbreak and exacerbated mistrust. Continue reading...
Bank of England said to be reviewing Barclays’ handling of private credit loans
Concerns financial contracts known as derivatives were incorrectly logged, potentially boosting Barclays’ profits The Bank of England is reportedly looking into Barclays’ handling of loans linked to the embattled private credit sector. The Bank’s regulatory arm, the Prudential Regulation Authority, started reviewing the matter earlier this year after concerns were raised by a Barclays insider, according to the Financial Times. Continue reading...
First Thing: US ambassador in rare diplomatic break with Israel over attack on US journalist
Mike Huckabee condemns attack on Washington Post photojournalist that has drawn lukewarm response from Israeli authorities. Plus, Japan is attempting to boldly go where no space mission has gone before Good morning. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has denounced a settler attack that left the Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine badly beaten and needing surgery as a “despicable act of terror”. Levine, 63, an award-winning journalist who lives in Israel, was set upon last Friday by masked Israeli settlers who used clubs and other weapons to attack Palestinian people attempting to harvest their olives. The photographer, who is in hospital recovering from hand surgery, broken ribs and other injuries, said she was beaten for more than 10 minutes. What else has Heidi Levine said about the attack? She said: “I was attacked, pushed to the ground. Luckily, I had my flak jacket and helmet, otherwise I probably wouldn’t even be here, because they just kept kicking and kicking me. I’ve been covering this region for over 40 years and I have never seen this country in such a state as it is today. I’ve invested decades of blood, sweat and tears into this. They cracked my bones, they haven’t cracked my spirit.” How have Israeli authorities responded ? In a move Levine said left her “shocked and insulted”, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been ambiguous in addressing the assault. He said he condemned “violence against anyone” but referred to the attack as “alleged” and said its circumstances remained unclear. What is causing the wave of protests across Europe? School conditions, housing costs and the cost of living have brought demonstrators on to the streets in several countries including Spain, France and Portugal. Protests in Albania against the prime minister, Edi Rama, entered their sixth day on Sunday. Demonstrators there have said they are unhappy with perceived corruption, a lack of jobs and poor education standards. Continue reading...
French police ‘lost control’ during riots, concedes interior minister
Forces in cities including Paris and Lyon were overwhelmed after ‘lack of anticipation’, says Laurent Nuñez Europe live – latest updates France’s interior minister has conceded police “lost control” in some cities during violent protests at the weekend, as the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, demanded a full security review and “new operational methods” to end the rioting and looting. Laurent Nuñez said on Monday there had been a “lack of anticipation” in preparations for Saturday’s protests and acknowledged that police numbers had sometimes been inadequate to deal with rioters and looters on the fringes of the demonstrations. Continue reading...
The Rams have managed to transform themselves from a superteam to a midteam
Los Angeles were tipped as a Super Bowl contender after assembling a star studded lineup. Now they’ve lost three of their last four games The Rams were supposed to be the closest thing the NFL had seen to a superteam in some time. Instead, they’re 2-4, have lost three of their last four games and are last in the NFC West. So much has gone awry, so quickly. Sunday was rock bottom (for now). The Rams lost to the division’s ugly stepchild, the Cardinals – a team they had beaten in 16 of their last 19 meetings – on a day when Arizona didn’t manage to score a touchdown. They didn’t need to, because Arizona kicker Chad Ryland connected on six field goal attempts, the last one a 43-yarder as time expired. The game was a tale of two kickers, in that the Cardinals had a superb one and the Rams didn’t have one at all. Days after releasing Harrison Mevis following a league-worst four misses in the season’s first five weeks, the Rams came into this game with Blake Grupe, whom they’d plucked off the Jets practice squad. Grupe got hurt covering a kickoff return in the first quarter, leaving the Rams literally kickerless for the duration. (Mevis, a big fella whose nickname is the Thick Kicker, or “Thiccer,” has about 80lbs on the 5ft 7in Grupe.) Continue reading...
Saudi Arabia is learning the hard way: they can’t count on Trump for protection | Mohamad Bazzi
After Houthis escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, the US turned down calls from MBS for help For years, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, cultivated a close relationship with Donald Trump and his son-in-law and former top adviser, Jared Kushner. The prince understood the president’s transactional approach to power: he signed deals to buy billions of dollars’ worth of US weapons and invested billions more in American companies. Days after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, Prince Mohammed pledged to expand investment and trade with the US by $600bn over four years. He later promised to increase that investment to nearly $1tn, although it wasn’t entirely clear how Saudi Arabia would manage to plough a sum close to the kingdom’s entire annual GDP into a foreign economy over a few years. Mohamad Bazzi is a Guardian US columnist. He is also director of the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies and a journalism professor at New York University Continue reading...
HelloFresh workers claim physical abuse and denied bathroom breaks in class action suit
The meal kit delivery service denies the allegations, saying it found claims to be ‘entirely without merit’ Workers at a HelloFresh facility in Newark, New Jersey have claimed in court documents that they were verbally and physically abused and denied regular bathroom breaks, with one former worker telling the Guardian he experienced incontinence issues as a result. The newly proposed amended complaint comes in a class action lawsuit first filed in August 2024 against the food prep service giant and staffing agencies. A New Jersey state court judge is expected to review the amended complaint in a hearing scheduled for 23 October. Continue reading...
The abortion debate has gone quiet amid US midterms. In Idaho, the stakes remain high
Republicans delay major action on abortion until after midterm elections, and Democrats focus on affordability Exactly 1,255 volunteers fanned out across Idaho ’s rural 35 legislative districts to collect signatures, knocking on 66,000 doors and ultimately gathering more than 110,000. Not a single one was paid – a rarity in today’s politics. This effort was in service of Proposition 1, which asks voters a single question: Should abortion be legal in Idaho? A “yes” vote would lift one of the most restrictive abortions bans in the nation. Continue reading...
AI firm Anthropic to commit 5% of shares to fund for ‘public good’
The $48bn giveaway by company, which is preparing to list on stock market, comes amid concerns about the tech Anthropic has said it will commit 5% of its shares to a fund for the “public good”, as the AI developer behind the Claude chatbot seeks to bolster its appeal before its stock market listing. The company announced that it would commit the shares, worth around $48bn (£36bn) at its latest valuation in May, subject to shareholder approval. It will add a further 2% of its stock to the fund for every 50% increase in its value above an undisclosed baseline. Continue reading...
Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria?
Condemnation across political spectrum after incident in Wangaratta, as Nationals MP from nearby electorate says Haines ‘not a divisive figure’ Dr Helen Haines, the popular independent MP for Indi, was hit by a car on Monday in what prime minister Anthony Albanese described as an “attack” and a “deliberate act”. The incident has sent shockwaves through federal politics, with the bombshell of the apparent attack – of a type not seen in Australian public life – amplified by the fact it targeted Haines, a principled politician who is well-respected by virtually all across the parliament. Continue reading...
Four arrested after police officer shot in foot in Nottingham
Officer in stable condition after incident in city centre in early hours of Sunday Four people have been arrested after a police officer was shot in the foot in Nottingham city centre. The officer was struck by a projectile believed to have been fired from a shotgun after approaching two suspects in the early hours of Sunday morning. Continue reading...
Hurricane Trudy menaces Mexico’s Pacific coast and Greece hit by deadly floods
Trudy weakens to tropical storm after warnings of strong winds and heavy rain, while one person killed in Greece In contrast to the quiet Atlantic hurricane season, the Pacific has seen continued activity, with Trudy the 22nd and latest named system. The category 2 hurricane remained roughly 100 miles south-west of the coast of Mexico, meaning the worst of the conditions stayed offshore. However, the US National Hurricane Center put coastal parts of the states of Jalisco, Michoacán and Colima under hurricane warnings, with sustained winds of up to 60-90mph forecast on Sunday. Rainfall totals of 100-150mm were likely for these areas, prompting warnings of flooding and landslides. Warnings also covered the risk of a dangerous storm surge accompanied by damaging waves in areas of onshore winds across the coast of south-western Mexico. By Monday morning, Trudy had weakened and been downgraded to a tropical storm, with coastal warnings lifted. Continue reading...
After the ITV exposé, see Reform’s fixation with ‘hate preachers’ as the stinking hypocrisy it really is | Owen Jones
Far-right extremism and rhetoric is coming from activists and unvetted councillors, but party leaders who peddle fear and rage can’t escape blame Who are the hate preachers radicalising rightwing extremists? As the head of MI5 warns that anti-migrant haters are increasingly considering terrorist attacks, it is surely a question we must ask. After all, the role of hate preachers in Islamist terrorism has long been debated. After the London Bridge Islamist terrorist attack in 2017, Nigel Farage demanded that Sadiq Khan – “as the first Muslim mayor of London” – declare that he would do all he could “to work with the Muslim community to drive out the extremist preachers from our mosques” and to fight radicalisation in schools and prisons. More recently, he suggested that Muslim parents in the United Arab Emirates feared sending their children to study in British universities “given the risk of radicalisation here”. His colleague Suella Braverman agrees. “There should be zero tolerance for hate preachers in mosques or radicalising imams in prisons,” she says. Owen Jones is a Guardian columnist. His latest book, The Fall of the West, is out now. To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com . Delivery charges may apply. Continue reading...
Sticker tycoon. Trump cheerleader. Rapper. Congressman?
Anthony Constantino wants to fill Elise Stefanik’s seat in New York. But his lead in the formerly Trump-loving district is narrowing The boss of a New York -based sticker company, whose staunch support for Donald Trump prompted him to record a Maga-themed rap album and call for an extension of Mount Rushmore to add the president’s face, is running for Congress . Anthony Constantino, who began a brief pro boxing career at age 40, is the Republican candidate for GOP congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s seat in New York’s 21st district. Continue reading...
US teens can access ‘nudify’ apps despite Apple and Google’s parental controls, report finds
Exclusive: Using test accounts acting as 13-year-olds, Tech Transparency Project downloaded 135 apps with features to generate nonconsensual nude imagery In December 2025, Morgan Dorfman received distressing news: a student at her daughter’s Pennsylvania high school was making AI-generated pornographic material using the daughter’s image. He was using an artificial intelligence image-editing app called Movely to create sexual videos from pictures of her daughter and five other girls. Continue reading...
We must tax the wealth of billionaires, not just income. California can lead the way | Ro Khanna
Will California stand with the working class or the oligarchs in the vote this November? The Democratic party has a choice to make. Are we going to be New Deal Democrats or corporate Democrats? Are we standing with the working class or the tech oligarchs? Proposition 40, California’s billionaire tax, is the most important ballot initiative in America and a fight for the soul of our party. Rohit Khanna is aUS congressman and attorney serving as the US representative from California’s 17th congressional district Continue reading...
US disaster survivors still await at least $10bn in federal aid: ‘It’s devastating’
The last long-term federal recovery funds allocated for a major disaster were for Hurricane Milton, which hit in late 2024 Survivors of extreme weather disasters across the US are facing long waits for government assistance funds to rebuild their lives, with the last long-term recovery funds allocated for Hurricane Milton that hit Florida two years ago. Government officials estimate more than $10bn is needed in long-term disaster recovery funding to rebuild affected communities in Los Angeles county and St Louis, Missouri, alone. Demetrice Davis’s home in north St Louis still has damage from the EF3 tornado that tore through the area in May 2025. “The insurance didn’t cover much of anything. And the Fema just kind of backed you up for a little while, but didn’t get you back on track,” he said. “The government agencies are not really doing what they’re supposed to do.” Continue reading...