At least 5,000 people, mainly teenagers, have been arrested while dozens of people, including students and teachers, have been injuredGermany is Ukraine's largest donor and has sent Kyiv more than 43.3 billion ($48.8 billion) since the war began, along with equipment and weapons.
Considered Republican frontrunner for presidential election, Vance is cozying up to the movement - as it splitsJD Vance, widely considered to be the Republican frontrunner for the presidential election in 2028, is aligning himself with the Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement as some say it is shedding its grassroots supporters in favor of political and corporate interests.The US vice-president has positioned himself as the inheritor of Make America Great Again (Maga), and attaching himself to Maha, which many in the Trump administration believe helped to win the 2024 election, signals a greater overlap between the two movements as the administration's popularity plummets amid the war in Iran and rising prices. Continue reading...
Six passengers and crew onboard still unaccounted for after medical plane vanished off coast of MassachusettsResearches found debris from a medical transport plane that was carrying six people when it vanished over the Atlantic early on Saturday during a flight from Bermuda to Boston, the US Coast Guard said.A statement from the Coast Guard issued on Saturday evening said crews searching off the coast of the Massachusetts island Nantucket located a debris field confirmed to be from the aircraft", described as an air ambulance. Continue reading...
Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro face off in battle between leftwing incumbent and far-right son of jailed ex-presidentBrazilians are going to the polls in the first round of a highly polarised and high-stakes presidential election that could change not only the direction of Latin America's largest country but that of the entire region.The election on Sunday pits the leftwing president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, against the far-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro, an ally of Donald Trump and the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup after his failed 2022 re-election attempt. Continue reading...
Attack happened shortly after Friedrich Merz arrived in city, on unannounced visit intended to underline Germany's backingRussia has struck another major bridge in Kyiv as the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, arrived in the capital in a show of support for Ukraine.A Russian drone hit Kyiv's key Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River, marking the fourth consecutive day that Russia has targeted bridges used by thousands of residents commuting between the city's two banks. Video footage showed cars driving across the bridge as the drone plunged into the roadway and exploded in a burst of fire. Two people were injured in the strike, said Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko. Continue reading...
Immigration court judge finds unsafe journeys' policy was applied unlawfully to two familiesA decision by the Home Office to block mothers and children in Gaza from joining their families in the UK has been quashed by a court.Families abroad who have had their applications approved to reunite with loved ones in the UK usually have to undergo biometric checks, including fingerprinting and facial images at a visa application centre. But the VAC in Gaza has been closed since October 2023 and it is difficult to get out of the territory. Continue reading...
Rallies have been mainstay of president's brand but even some in his own party fear voters are sick of the sight of himGet your asses in that car." That was Donald Trump's order, he later recalled, to his motorcade after foul weather grounded Air Force One in Texas on Thursday. The 85-mile dash to Oklahoma at nearly 100mph was proof that nothing can keep Trump from a Trump rally.Which might not be the good news for Republicans it once was. As the US president embarked on a 32-day campaign blitz aimed at helping them defend narrow congressional majorities in next month's midterms, some fear that he is driving them towards an electoral wipeout. Continue reading...
Trump supporters may be surprised to learn the state takeover of means of production is not driven by the leftAmericans will never accept the Democratic party's slide to the left, or so desperate Republicans are hoping.With the midterm elections fast upon us, Zohran Mamdani's promise of a few city-run bodegas in New York City will scare the bejeezus out of middle America. Disgust over the democratic socialists' unicorn-and-puppy promises of a world without capitalism will keep the Republicans in power. Continue reading...
Former Tory minister defends UK decision to enter war in podcast with US rightwinger and Putin sympathiserThe former Tory minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has found himself defending Britain's decision to fight against Adolf Hitler after inviting the US rightwinger and Vladimir Putin sympathiser Tucker Carlson into his home for an interview.During the encounter, Carlson repeatedly suggested the west was to blame for inviting aggression from Russia and said of the prospect that Britain could have lost to Hitler: Who cares?" Continue reading...
by Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent on (#78TGA)
Most counties don't have their own health agencies, and some specific population groups have low vaccination ratesPennsylvania is bracing for a wave of measles cases, with some public health officials concerned that it's only a matter of time" until the disease spreads beyond the outbreak's epicenter.Last week the state reported its fifth measles-associated death amid 943 confirmed cases across 39 counties. The outbreak comes amid concerns that public health in the US has been hit by increasing vaccine skepticism, especially due to the power and influence of controversial health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Continue reading...
Ivy League school's president promises action after woman alleged she was drugged and raped by fraternity membersCornell University will examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus after an outcry over the school's handling of a student's rape allegations, the Ivy League school's president has said.A civil lawsuit filed last month by the woman, who alleges she was drugged and raped in 2024 by several members of the Chi Phi fraternity, has prompted outrage and soul-searching at Cornell over its campus culture at the school in Ithaca, New York. Continue reading...
Unison refuses to ballot members on offer that would make thousands of council employees worse offThousands of Glasgow council workers face being sacked and reappointed under less favourable terms in one of the UK's biggest ever fire-and-rehire" exercises, after union negotiations broke down once again this week.About 23,000 workers - all of the council's non-teaching staff - first heard they were affected last week when talks between the SNP-led council and the GMB, Unison and Unite unions fell apart. Those negotiations concerned a new pay and grading system designed to resolve historical pay equality issues. Unison refused to ballot its members on an offer that would mean pay cuts for 11% of council employees, prompting the council to begin issuing fire-and-rehire letters. Continue reading...
by Bethan McKernan Wales correspondent on (#78TFT)
Industry says a phased end to racing, to avoid sudden jump in caring responsibilities, is unworkableWales's greyhound racing ban - a UK first - has run into difficulties regarding how and when to wind down the practice, potentially risking the animals' welfare, a charity has warned.The law, which received royal assent in April, includes a three-year window for the ban to come into effect and is overseen by a Welsh government working group, which includes racing industry representatives and animal health and welfare organisations. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#78TFS)
Charity calls for faster progress on humane slaughter laws for farmed fish in England and WalesUp to 77m fish are slaughtered each year in the UK but there are no routine or mandatory inspections of fish slaughterhouses in England and Wales, it can be revealed.Concerns within government about the way fish are slaughtered date back decades but all of the official bodies responsible for animal welfare and food standards in England and Wales said they do not undertake regular inspections. Continue reading...
FOI request shows wildfire risk scheme scrapped, as survey highlights many fire services lack proper protective gearThe government quietly scrapped plans to prepare the countryside in England for wildfires, it has been revealed. This was despite new data showing fire crews do not have the proper protective gear to tackle them.This summer has been a potent reminder of the scale of the threat posed by the climate crisis, with the UK experiencing record-breaking wildfires after punishingly hot and dry weather turned large parts of the countryside into a tinderbox. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Clare Matterson, the head of the Royal Horticultural Society, talks about the charity's 2.3m roadworks compensation, community gardening and her high hopes for Andy BurnhamThe government has awarded 2.3m in compensation to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) after roadworks affecting its premier garden in Wisley caused a three-year traffic jam".The horticulture charity estimated it lost 13m due to disruption caused by the upgrade to the A3 and M25, with visits to the garden each year cut by 350,000. A campaign to reimburse the charity was led by the gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#78TF2)
Those who have stepped in to keep young family members from going into care in England and Wales say the decision has brought them joy and hardshipClive vividly remembers the day when, without warning or time to work out what he was really letting himself in for, he became a kinship carer.The social worker left, the door closed and Savannah was lying there in a carry cot, wrapped up in a pink blanket. She looked so calm and so comfy, absolutely oblivious about what's just happened. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#78TF1)
The mood is better but overhyped', says one Conservative MP as party remains a distant third in pollsThe forthcoming Conservative conference will be, almost everyone in the party agrees, notably more upbeat and unified than last year. There is a similar consensus that Kemi Badenoch is doing well as party leader. That is, however, not the whole story.The mood is better but the facts are still very poor," one Conservative MP said. We are still a distant third in the polls, and if there was an election tomorrow we would lose, and badly. That means the mood is overhyped." Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspon on (#78TE6)
AbortOmat' in Warsaw offers novel way to challenge country's restrictions and allow women swift, anonymous accessThey call it the world's first parcel locker for abortion pills". Polish campaigners have launched a new means of distribution as part of their ongoing effort to skirt the country's near-total ban on abortion.Painted pink and framed by zebra-striped curtains, the 22-compartment AbortOmat" in Warsaw allows women to access the pills swiftly and anonymously using a six-digit code. The service was envisaged for those who cannot or do not want to wait days for mail delivery due to a missed miscarriage or health complications, or who worry about receiving the pills at home. Continue reading...
Britain under pressure to put tariffs on cheap Chinese vehicle imports ahead of protectionist trade measuresBritain's car industry is grappling with a difficult trade-off" between China and Europe, as manufacturers struggle to balance the benefits of both markets ahead of looming trade measures that could restrict UK exports to the EU.The UK is an outlier in choosing not to put import taxes on Chinese vehicles, even as the US has shut them out almost entirely, and the EU imposes duties of up to 45%. Continue reading...
by Australian Associated Press and Andrew Messenger on (#78TD8)
Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, 18, appears in court on dangerous driving offences after car struck Knights supporters lining streets to farewell their team
Treasurer says very substantial and intensifying pressure' on federal budget as he points finger at private sector for driving up inflation amid Middle East conflict
Forty-year-old victim declared dead at the scene in East Acton in a senseless act of violence'A murder investigation has been launched after a 40-year-old man was shot dead in a senseless act of violence" during a memorial service in west London, police have said.Police were called on Friday at 7.47pm after multiple shots were heard in East Acton. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#78TAK)
Kemi Badenoch says those earning more than 100,000 should not be discouraged from working moreThe Conservatives have unveiled a proposed 700m childcare giveaway for high earners ahead of their annual conference, saying they would end the cliff edge" where free entitlement ends at salaries above 100,000.The plan, set out the day before the event begins in Birmingham, follows the earlier proposal by Kemi Badenoch's party to abolish most stamp duty, another change to taxation that would disproportionately benefit wealthier people. Continue reading...
Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang died after apparently ingesting kratom product last monthFederal authorities investigating the recent deaths of two University of Mississippi students have charged a store clerk and his son with selling an illegal kratom product, prosecutors announced on Friday.A drug taskforce in Mississippi had previously urged people to avoid kratom, an herbal substance that acts as a stimulant at low doses and a sedative at high doses, after authorities found packages of kratom derivatives while investigating the deaths on 21 September. Continue reading...
TSA says rule change is meant to keep officers alert', but union says it ignores safety and common decency'US airport security officers who verify boarding passes and IDs ahead of security checkpoints will no longer be allowed to sit down while working.The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was moving forward with this change in policy to keep officers alert", the agency confirmed recently. Continue reading...
Ryan Anderson says he reached out to Blanchard's father to offer support after apparent overdose death of Ken UrkerThe ex-husband of Gypsy Rose Blanchard has said he was shocked" by the recent death in Louisiana of her former partner Ken Urker - and that he would be there for Blanchard and her daughter if she needs me".Ryan Anderson made those remarks during an appearance on The Sarah Fraser Show podcast on Friday, providing a noteworthy reaction to the latest chapter involving Blanchard, who achieved an unusual level of celebrity in the US after spending time imprisoned for a role in the murder of her abusive mother in Missouri. Continue reading...
Investigation revealed thousands of voyeuristic videos taken on Munich beer festival's Teufelsrad, or Devil's WheelWomen have been given free cycling shorts to prevent upskirting on a famous amusement ride at the Oktoberfest in Munich, after an investigation revealed tens of thousands of voyeuristic videos circulating online.The Teufelsrad, or Devil's Wheel, which rapidly spins around while people try to sit on it for as long as they can, is one of the beer festival's oldest rides. But many of the videos discovered by German journalists focus on women whose traditional dirndl dresses have ridden up, often showing their underwear. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith told party members last year he had discussed making further savings if they win next electionThe Conservatives are planning to make sweeping cuts beyond the 47bn announced last year if they win the next election, according to leaked comments by the shadow chancellor.Speaking last year when he was shadow business secretary, Andrew Griffith told Conservative members he and fellow shadow cabinet ministers had discussed making further cuts in every part of government". Continue reading...
Greek PM hopes handover of Tsar Samuel to Bulgaria will persuade Britain that time has come for truth, reason, justice and morality'In a ceremony replete with the sort of fanfare usually reserved for great events, Greece and Bulgaria have formally exchanged a treasury" of relics and bones, sealing a cultural deal negotiated over decades.The handover involved priceless religious objects removed from Greece at the height of the first world war, as well as remains thought to belong to Tsar Samuel, Bulgaria's revered medieval warrior ruler. Continue reading...
Demonstrators take to the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities after new legislation fails to passTens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities as they step up demands for action to tackle a mounting housing crisis after government measures were struck down by the opposition.Demonstrators on Saturday waved posters calling for a general strike after the measures drawn up to address mass anger over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, and other housing issues, were rejected in parliament on Friday. Continue reading...
The 25-year-old was the sixth man detained as counter-terrorism police investigate possible foreign state involvement'A sixth man who was arrested in connection with a suspected terrorist plot at RAF Fairford has been released on bail.The 25-year-old, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Continue reading...
This live blog is now closed, you can find more of our UK political coverage hereAli says Britain is a multiracial, multicultural democracy that needs to protect everyone's equal right to belong."At a time when Britain is facing unprecedented levels of racist violence and intimidation, the country needs leadership.
by Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent on (#78T3Q)
Shoppers are switching from traditional product despite little evidence alternative is saferBacon has long been a favourite of carnivores, but there is growing consumer concern about the health risks posed by nitrites, chemicals used to cure meats.While many experts argue there is no evidence processed meat made without nitrites is safer, retailers have responded to consumer concerns by offering nitrite-free" products to meet demand. Continue reading...
The UK prime minister has earned his party a rehearing but the battle of public opinion is not yet wonHe's offering what no other politician has offered for a long, long time. He actually feels like he's one of us," was how Neil, a geography teacher, described Andy Burnham in our focus group on Thursday night.Neil wasn't alone in his praise: this group of Labour 2024 voters - some of whom had drifted to Reform, the Tories and Greens during the Starmer era - provided the most positive reception for a politician since Boris Johnson at the height of his Covid-vaccine bounce. Continue reading...
The Premier League's actions would have an influence on the bilateral state relationship', Emirati officials saidThe United Arab Emirates have reportedly warned the government it could cancel big investments in the UK after Manchester City were found guilty by an independent commission.Emirati officials said the Premier League's actions" would have an influence on the bilateral state relationship", according to Bloomberg. Continue reading...
Attorney general says terrorist attack' was attempted by suspect who is said to have been barred from flying by Oman because of extremist viewsThe co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 used an axe to attempt to carry out a terrorist attack" during the Israel-bound flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has said.Disaster was narrowly averted on Wednesday when passengers and crew intervened to stop the co-pilot from his attempt to take control of the plane, which had 182 people on board and plunged 16,625ft in just over 30 seconds. The descent was so extreme that part of the rudder was ripped off. Continue reading...
Authorities crack down on trade they says risks spiralling out of control - but operators say they are being targeted unfairlyOn the edge of Piazza Navona, one of the grandest squares in central Rome, Barry and Linda, visitors from Texas in the US, stepped out of a golf cart. They planned to cross the square on foot, perhaps stopping to admire Lorenzo Bernini's 17th-century Fountain of the Four Rivers, before being picked up by their driver at the opposite end.The couple had already done a walking tour on day one of their trip, and had been so exasperated by a stifling three-hour shuffle along a corridor towards the Sistine Chapel on day two that by the third day they wanted to give their tired feet a rest. Continue reading...
Western Libya's GNU say working with Saddam Haftar impossible' as US-backed merger plan breaks downAllegations that the son of the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar oversaw a terror cell" that launched drone attacks on fuel storage facilities and power stations in western Libya have upended plans for the Tripoli-based government of national unity (GNU) to continue cooperating with Haftar on a plan to unify the country.Saddam Haftar, the deputy commander of the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), has increasingly been seen by the US as an important figure in its plans to unify Libyan security, judicial and political institutions. Continue reading...
Mayor Vitali Klitschko says Kyivans can no longer pretend it is peacetime' amid strikes on school, hospital and bridgeValeriya Tkachenko was dropping her son off at school in central Kyiv when the air raid alert sounded. Staff hurried the children and parents into the shelter, where the frightened lawyer spent the next two hours with her son.I'm scared to death all day about what could happen to my son," she said as she emerged from the shelter, already late for work. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#78T19)
Revelation comes amid mounting concern over online prediction market's effects on integrity of financial systemUK authorities are being urged to intervene after it emerged that the online prediction market Polymarket has been taking thousands of dollars worth of bets over whether HSBC and Lloyds will fail.Polymarket - the US-owned company which holds bets on anything from football matches, to the existence of aliens, to when a bomb drops on a city - has allowed users to take $77,507 (58,530) worth of positions on whether the world's biggest banks will go under by the end of this year. Continue reading...
Companies race to switch households to voice over internet protocol' services by the end of JanuaryBT has been accused of bullying" customers by temporarily cutting off their broadband to pressure them to upgrade to a digital landline, as providers race to switch households over before the January deadline.Telecoms companies have so far migrated 16-17m lines from the old copper network to digital voice over internet protocol (VoiP), which uses a broadband connection instead, in the biggest technological upgrade since the early 00s, when analogue TV was switched off. Continue reading...
by Presented by Aditya Chakrabortty, produced by Fran on (#78T0B)
Who is really in charge - the people or the markets? In the first episode of Radical Thinking, a new series from the Guardian, senior economics commentator Aditya Chakrabortty speaks to the former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. What was it like during the eurozone crisis when Varoufakis went head to head with those who wanted to stop his reforms?Watch Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty here. Continue reading...