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Politics
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Decoding America: Could datacentres lose Trump the midterms? - podcast
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast Decoding America, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad explore why datacentres in the US have provoked such anger – and whether that could harm Republicans in the midterms given Donald Trump is such a supporter of the growing industry. They also look at why the US and Canada are fighting over tariffs. The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, is pushing back and both countries could be on the cusp of a full-blown trade war. Finally: why does the Trump administration’s secretary of transportation Sean Duffy have his very own YouTube show – and is he the only one? Read more: Canada announces retaliatory tariffs on wide range of US goods Trump-backed Ken Paxton unveils ‘Texas first’ datacenter plan aimed at ‘negative impact’ Continue reading...
Andy Burnham should rip up our undemocratic first past the post system – even if some in Labour disagree | Neal Lawson
Rearguard reactionaries may try to block the idea of a national commission into proportional representation, but we should want more not less democracy A poll in the Mail on Sunday at the end of June was remarkable. It had not just Reform as low as 21%, but also Labour and the Tories. It was remarkable because it starkly demonstrated the fragmented landscape of the UK’s electoral terrain, as well as the electoral weakness of its main players. Polls since have varied, not least with the Burnham bounce, but this week’s YouGov voting intention figures put Reform, Labour and the Tories on 23%, 22% and 20% respectively (although it almost no longer matters which exact figure applies to which party). Add in the Greens and the Liberal Democrats on 13% apiece, the SNP dominating Scotland and Plaid Cymru Wales, then Restore UK and independent candidates and you have an unprecedented variety of options laid out before the British electorate. Neal Lawson is director of the cross-party campaign organisation Compass Continue reading...
‘Reluctant’ approval for Tasmanian datacentre sets marker for national battle
Concerns over planning process as George Town council gives go-ahead for 288MW AI factory despite opposition from locals Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The day before Anthony Albanese secured agreement with states and territories to develop national datacentre standards , a small council in Tasmania was grappling with the existing regulations in the face of strong community opposition to a new AI factory planned for its town. The George Town council voted 6-1 to approve the plans of Australian developer Firmus to build a 288 megawatt (MW) datacentre at Long Reach, north of Launceston, but said it did so reluctantly. Continue reading...
Why are European leaders staying silent after our summer of climate shock?
Lethal temperatures and wildfires have exposed a widening gulf between voters demanding action and politicians unwilling to confront the long-term choices global heating requires • Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up here The climate crisis means “we’re going to have to change everything – the way we live, the way we produce, the way we trade,” France’s veteran radical-left firebrand, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, told the summer congress of his France Insoumise party last weekend. The term “climate change”, said Mélenchon – the most likely rival to Marine Le Pen in next year’s presidential run-off, according to one poll this week – may sound “almost reassuring”, but its actual impact will feel like “landing on another planet whenever we leave home”. Continue reading...
Flight attendant’s breast cancer was occupational disease, court rules
Sophie Lainault, who worked for Air France, wins legal case linking illness to more than 12,600 hours on flights A flight attendant in France has succeeded in having her breast cancer recognised as an occupational disease, a first for the country’s aviation industry, her lawyer and a trade union said. The ruling, which recognised that Sophie Lainault, a former flight attendant for Air France , had frequently worked at night and been exposed to passive smoking, could pave the way for similar claims, the lawyer and the CFDT union said. Continue reading...
Pubs, bars and hotels report ‘Burnham bounce’ in optimism but call for further tax relief
Sentiment in hospitality and brewing sectors more positive since business rates action, trade bodies’ survey finds Pubs, bars and hotels have reported a “Burnham bounce” in optimism as a result of the prime minister’s overtures to the sector, polling suggests, but they warn that the goodwill could evaporate without further tax relief. Andy Burnham has positioned himself as a staunch ally of the UK’s hospitality industry both before and since his arrival at No 10, last month announcing a discount on business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues. Continue reading...
Serena and Venus Williams will play doubles together at the US Open
Sisters to appear in New York for first time since 2022 Serena played mixed doubles with Alcaraz on Tuesday Serena and Venus Williams are teaming up again at the US Open. The sisters will play doubles at the tournament after receiving a wild card on Wednesday into the event they have won twice. Continue reading...
Modern cowboys are saddling up in the US West. And they’re on a whole new mission
In states like Montana, range riders can play a key role in a wild landscape where livestock and predators navigate life together For most people, the word “cowboy” still summons a figure from Western folklore – a rough rider with a weathered face and a steely gaze, a self-reliant loner who answers to nobody, is fearless in the face of danger, and protects his lands from predators – animal and human alike. But over the past 15 years, a new range rider has emerged in the American West, one that is out on a wholly different mission: to live in a wild landscape where livestock and predators can co-exist. Continue reading...
Devon man becomes first person to swim Switzerland’s 10 largest lakes
Neil Gilson completes 230-mile challenge after a ‘tough’ 22-hour crossing of Lac Léman He staggered rather than sprang out of the lake but it wasn’t surprising. Neil Gilson , a former international athlete, could be forgiven for feeling a little wobbly, having become the first person to swim the 10 largest lakes in Switzerland, a total of about 230 miles (370km). Continue reading...
Inquest opens into death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday
Academic was found unresponsive by family members, inquest told, as coroner adjourns proceedings to later date A coroner has formally opened an inquest into the death of Jason Arday, who resigned as a professor at the University of Cambridge amid allegations of plagiarism. Arday, 41, died at his home in Battersea, south London on 14 August, nine days after his resignation. Family members watched the 10-minute hearing at London inner south coroner’s court via a video link. Continue reading...
ICE agent embroiled in interstate extradition dispute after allegedly shooting Venezuelan man
Christian Castro is charged in Minnesota with assault and falsely reporting a crime by another Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agent accused of firing his gun and wounding a Venezuelan man in the leg is caught in an interstate extradition dispute between Texas and Minnesota – and could walk out of a Texas jail as soon as Wednesday if a federal judge does not intervene. Christian Castro is charged in Minnesota with assault and falsely reporting a crime by another, in relation to the incident where he was involved in the wounding of 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in January. Continue reading...
Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived back in UK, say reports
Harry, Meghan and family expected to enjoy ‘extended stay’ with children Archie and Lilibet already enrolled at school The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived back in the UK, landing at Birmingham airport, according to reports. Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are expected to enjoy an “extended stay” in Britain, with the children already enrolled at school in the UK and due to start next week. Continue reading...
‘I catch the signs a lot earlier now’: Amanda Anisimova on burnout and bouncing back
World No 10 is one of the best players yet to win a major and heads to Flushing Meadows in fine form after learning to embrace being uncomfortable Amanda Anisimova can see the signs now. It is just over three years since the American announced she would be taking an indefinite break for mental health reasons. A brilliant junior, she was a semi-finalist at the French Open in 2019 and seemingly destined for the top, only for her world to be rocked by the sudden death of her father, Konstantin, a few months later. Struggling for motivation and burned out, in May 2023, she revealed she would be stepping away from the sport. It turned out to be the best decision she ever made. “I learned how important it is to have a great balance on and off the court,” Anisimova says in an interview from New York, ahead of the US Open, where she will try to go one better than last year and win her first grand slam title. Continue reading...
Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon’s ex-husband stole SNP funds
To Nicola, Love Peter will focus on couple’s relationship during 12-year period of embezzlement and fallout of case Channel 5 is reuniting with the producers of Power: the Downfall of Huw Edwards for a drama about how Nicola Sturgeon’s former husband embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish National party and the impact it had on her reputation. To Nicola, Love Peter will examine the couple’s relationship over the 12-year period that Peter Murrell diverted funds from the SNP while he was the chief executive to spend on items including a £124,550 motorhome and more than £2,600 on a pair of luxury salt and pepper grinders. Continue reading...
Women using HRT at lower risk of dementia, study suggests
Scientists found those who had used hormone replacement therapy were 10% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia Hormone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of dementia, a study has found. Scientists tracked more than 180,000 postmenopausal women in the UK in the largest study of its kind. They found that those who had used HRT were 10% less likely to develop any type of dementia and 16% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the most common form, compared with those who had never used it. Continue reading...
First Thing: Pause on US immigrant visa leaves thousands of applicants in limbo
All US immigrant visa applications halted to tighten restrictions and limit access. Plus tributes pour in for Dolly Parton, who has died aged 80 Good morning. All US immigrant visa applications have been paused by the Trump administration as the state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants whom they deem could need US assistance. The agency launched the initiative at all embassies and consulates in early August. Applicants with scheduled interviews were sent emails that their appointments had been canceled. Agency officials claim this will ensure visa applicants will not end up relying on US public benefits. This week the Trump administration also announced plans to revoke visas from asylum seekers who had initially entered the US for tourism or business. Up to 200,000 people seeking asylum could be affected. Is the move lawful? “The court made clear that immigration laws cannot be used to justify discrimination,” Joanna Cuevas Ingram, a senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, said. In February, a federal judge overturned the president’s attempt to suspend the US refugee system entirely. Why are the states suing Meta? The lawsuit centers on the allegations that Meta deliberately designed addictive products that hooked young people, leading to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and suicide. Meta has denied all allegations, saying the states are chasing an “outlandish payout”. Continue reading...
Murder investigation launched after two die in Middlesbrough house fire
Cleveland police not ruling out links to organised crime, as fire comes amid force’s investigation into fatal A66 crash A murder investigation has been launched after a house fire in Middlesbrough killed two people, with police not ruling out links to organised crime. The blaze in the early hours of Wednesday came as police continued to investigate the wider circumstances around a collision on Saturday on the A66 that killed seven people, including two police officers. Continue reading...
Hope and concern swirls for Ohioans around ‘world’s largest datacenter’
Piketon datacenter promises to generate thousands of jobs, but environmental groups voice concern over project On a winding road tucked away behind forests in the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio is where OpenAI, Nvidia and Japanese investors are set to spend $500bn on one of the largest artificial intelligence datacenters on the planet. Last March, the energy secretary, Chris Wright, the commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick and a host of Japanese and other dignitaries briefly descended on Piketon to enthusiastically break ground on a project to build 8GW worth of AI computing power. Continue reading...
‘You can taste the ash’: surviving in America’s wildfire smoke capital
A magical corner of Oregon has the highest US rate of wildfire smoke deaths. How do residents live with the haze – and grief? Driving into the county, you can’t miss the sign. “IT’S THE CLIMATE”. Continue reading...
How Dolly Parton's glamorous career transcended stereotypes – video obituary
Dolly Parton was one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music and a pioneer for women throughout her career. The Guardian US's deputy arts editor, Owen Myers, reflects on a career and legacy whose impact transcends generations Dolly Parton dies aged 80 after cancer diagnosis Celebrity tributes pour in for Dolly Parton: ‘a gift to the world’ Continue reading...
Groups sue Trump’s EPA over fast-track approval of toxic datacenter chemicals
Exposure to two compounds approved can result in ‘sudden death’ and range of other serious health risks, lawsuit warns The Trump administration has approved two new datacenter chemicals to which exposure can result in “sudden death” and a range of other serious health risks, like cancer, eye corrosion, neurological damage and reproductive harm, a new lawsuit warns. The two compounds approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for import and immediate use in facilities across the US are photoacid generators that also appear to be Pfas “forever chemicals”, though it is unclear because much of the EPA documents are redacted. Some Pfas are commonly used in the production of semiconductors. Continue reading...
Mpox is back – and in new countries. How this outbreak can be contained
The public health emergencies in 2022 and 2024 saw the virus reported in 145 countries, but in the new cases children appear particularly affected A fresh outbreak of mpox in Guinea Bissau – the country’s first – means the virus formerly known as monkey pox is back in the headlines. So what has changed? Since 2022, there have been almost 190,000 lab-confirmed cases of mpox reported worldwide in 145 countries. Before then, outbreaks of mpox tended to be relatively small and in a handful of African countries, where the viral infection was known to be endemic. Continue reading...
Olivia Moultrie’s injury leaves the USWNT with a thinning midfield pool ahead of the World Cup
The Portland Thorns midfielder fills a role few in the US player pool can match, and she’s in a race against time to be fit for Brazil Olivia Moultrie is no stranger to setting her own timeline. Half a decade ago, her desire to go pro at age 15 helped change NWSL rules, which previously forbade teams from signing players under the age of 18. The ensuing half-decade has seen her go from one of the nation’s top prospects to a proven high-level midfielder, a developmental success with the Portland Thorns. Today, Moultrie instead finds herself in a race against time. The 2027 World Cup kicks off in just over 300 days, and her recovery from a torn ACL suffered at the start of this month has only just begun. Moultrie may not be among the biggest stars in the United States’ player pool, but her recovery from this injury should be closely monitored. Simply, there are few like-for-like alternatives who operate in possession as tidily and dangerously as she does. Continue reading...
Fake US thinktank set up and funded by Israel sought to game AI for propaganda
In effort to prime chatbots to make pro-Israel arguments the site published 124 reports, over 560,000 words in nine days, Guardian analysis shows A pro-Israel messaging website badged with the name of a thinktank that does not exist has published more than half a million words in nine days, built on a commercial platform that promises to optimize content so that AI chatbots will cite it. The site gives Israel’s position on subjects including the torture of Palestinian prisoners , Israeli war crimes and whether Israel has deliberately starved Palestinians in Gaza, all presented as neutral research. Continue reading...