by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#79BST)
Digital taper system for benefit expected in budget, but those already hit with overpayments will still have to payOn the surface it sounds really positive - and I really hope that it is," says unpaid carer Guy Shahar of the government's decision to abolish the notorious carer's allowance cliff edge.But Shahar is angry that most carers hit with unjust overpayments in the past will still have to repay them, for all the promise of a different future. And he notes the cliff edge remains in place for four more years, potentially catching out more carers. Continue reading...
by Emma Graham-Harrison in Efrat and Julian Borger in on (#79BSW)
Bereaved families tell voters to remember the victims while others have flown thousands of miles to cast their ballotsElection day in Israel began with a protest by some of the voters with most at stake. Bereaved families of those killed in the 7 October attacks held a minute of silence at 6.29 am, the moment when Hamas launched its onslaught just over three years ago.They gathered in a Tel Aviv plaza that has become known as hostages square" because it was the centre of demonstrations demanding the return of more than 200 captives from Gaza. Holding pictures of their loved ones, they stood in silence then called on voters to remember the losses and betrayals of that day when deciding on the next government. Continue reading...
Two men charged under National Security Act were directed by handler believed to have been working for Iranian intelligence, court toldA group of men were directed to drive vans loaded with petrol to Fairford RAF base by a handler known as Ali, who police believe was working on behalf of Iran, a court heard on Tuesday.One of the five men tasked with driving to the base called police in the early hours of 27 September after the handler warned the group about a bomb in the vans, prosecutors told Westminster magistrates court. Continue reading...
Emissions from exported oil would not count against carbon budget, insiders say - reasoning likely to draw dismay from climate campaignersThe giant Rosebank oilfield can be approved without breaching the UK's emission targets, according to government insiders, in a boost to those in the cabinet who are pushing for it to be given the go-ahead.The Guardian revealed last week that Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, was leaning towards rejecting the project, but her position has put her at loggerheads with cabinet colleagues, including the chancellor, John Healey, who are lobbying for an approval. Continue reading...
Michal Stasiak and Kinga Wydrzynska pleaded not guilty to 11 counts relating to death of 13-month-old Isabella StasiakA 13-month-old girl was subjected to physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her parents before she was fatally injured by her mother, a court has heard.Michal Stasiak, 28, and Kinga Wydrzynska, 26, appeared at Warwick crown court on Tuesday, where they pleaded not guilty to 11 counts related to the death of Isabella Stasiak. Continue reading...
by Tiago Rogero in Brasília and Tom Phillips in São on (#79BNX)
Far-right senator on plane to US after missing deadline to hand over his passport since loss to LulaThe far-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro has reportedly fled Brazil and is on his way to the United States after losing Sunday's presidential election to the leftwing incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.A report by the news website Metropoles, citing people close to the politician's family, said he was en route to the US. The plane is in flight," Metropoles reported, without making clear where it had departed from. Continue reading...
Frontline near Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine quiet for first time in years ahead of planned evacuationA local ceasefire in a southern Ukrainian city under Russian occupation appeared to be holding on Tuesday, with both sides ceasing drone attacks ahead of an apparent evacuation of about 2,000 trapped and desperate civilians.The temporary truce began at 3am in Russian-controlled Oleshky. The city sits on the Dnipro River and is about 3 miles (5km) from Kherson, a larger city on the opposite bank. Ukrainian troops recaptured Kherson in autumn 2022. Continue reading...
We are apparently to believe Raheem Kassam calling Kemi a Nigerian scammer' was racist and not racist at the same timeBack to the future. Some of us can remember the days when the key to surviving a nuclear war was to kneel down under the kitchen table and keep your eyes closed till you were incinerated or died of radiation poisoning. Now the government wants you to hoard some baked beans and a few litres of water in the hope of getting through the next three days.But when the apocalypse does come, you can bank on there being one survivor. The politician with seemingly limitless powers of regeneration. As one party of his dies, so another rises from the ashes. Fuelled not by water and tinned food, but by alcohol and grievance. Somehow, Nigel Farage is always the victim in his own story. The man who is forever misunderstood. Continue reading...
by Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on (#79BP0)
Government-backed Warm Home Loans scheme to help households cut energy bills by hundreds of poundsHouseholds across the UK can now cut their energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year at no upfront cost by applying for interest-free or low-interest" loans to fund upgrades such as heat pumps, batteries and solar panels.The government-backed Warm Home Loans scheme, which launched on Tuesday, could mean thousands more households are able to access low-carbon energy alternative technologies, thanks to loans ranging from 7,500 to up 35,000. Continue reading...
by Ajit Niranjan Europe environment correspondent on (#79BP1)
Extreme heat accelerated disappearance of Triglav glacier from mountain revered as a symbol of Slovenian identityThe final ice patch has vanished from Slovenia's Triglav glacier, the latest Alpine casualty of Europe's scorching summer.The once mighty ice mass lost 93% of its surface area between 1983 and 2003, shrinking to cover less than a hectare of overheated rock, but went on to surprise researchers who feared its imminent demise, clinging on to the mountain for two more decades. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips, Michael Hubbard and Guardian moderat on (#79B4G)
Having lost the first round of Brazil's presidential election to far right rival Flavio Bolsonaro, incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spectacularly triumphed in the second. What comes next for Brazil? The Guardian's Tom Phillips is answering your questions now.Ask a question: log in or sign up here to comment, or email conversations@theguardian.comJeremy Hurley asks: Why did the Brazil stock market tank after the election result, and will it recover?Tom: Basically, because the markets had been convinced that Flavio Bolsonaro was going to win and that after taking power he would implement a chainsaw" style austerity programme inspired by Javier Milei's government in Argentina, deal with Brazil's budget deficit, and bring down interest rates. Lula's victory came as a shock to investors who believe his fourth presidency will see increased and unsustainable public spending.Yes, I'm sure things will stabilise at some point soon after the initial panic - during Lula's previous administrations investors made a lot of money, particularly during his first two terms. There is talk of Lula naming his vice-president, the centre-right politician Geraldo Alckmin, as finance minister in order to calm markets down. Another possible name Rafael Fonteles, a mathematician who is the governor of Piaui and used to run that state's finances.Tom: Hi Adam. That's a really good question and, as someone who lives in Rio de Janeiro, it is one that has been on my mind a lot. The far right has been very good at blaming soft" left wing policies and federal government incompetence for the failure to control armed violence. It was a huge part of the campaign against Lula in the run up to this election.But public security is a state matter and Rio state has largely been governed by the right for years now. Their hard-line, shoot first ask questions later approach has not worked - in fact many believe it has made the violence even worse and led to massacres such as the one I covered in the Complexo da Penha almost exactly one year ago. It must be said that similar tactics have been used in Bahia state, which has a huge problem with violence and is governed by the Worker's party (PT). My colleague Tiago Rogero has written about this. Continue reading...
Greens say Labour has no respect for young people' amid reports chancellor will pause equalisation of minimum wage for under-21s with that paid to older workersJonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, has not contested reports saying that, in the budget tomorrow, John Healey, the chancellor, will pause the process of equalising the lower national minimum wage paid to people under the age of 21 with the more generous national living wage that applies to older workers.In an interview on the BBC this morning, Reynolds was asked to respond to a story suggesting the equalisation process has been put on hold because of concerns about youth unemployment.John Healey will announce plans to increase the minimum wage by nearly 4% but slow the rise for young people after warnings that they are being priced out of jobs.The Times has been told that the national living wage, which applies to those aged 21 and over, is expected to rise from 12.71 to around 13.20 - an increase of 3.9%.The manifesto pledge on equalisation still applies, but it was always clear it would happen over time and we would take into account, as the minimum wage uprating each year always does, the relative strength of the labour market and other pressures ...Of course, you want not just good wages, but good work. And the way this has always been done - it is a balance of making sure the pressures on the labour market are taken into account. That is the approach you will see confirmed [in the budget].Anyone doing a day's work, needs to be paid the same rate for the same job. A young person's rent and food bill is no less because they are young, so they need to receive the same wage.Healey and Burnham are now breaking a manifesto pledge to young people that even Starmer managed to keep. Labour have no respect for young people, who appear to just be there for cheap labour for the wealthy and their corporate donors.[It] wouldn't be my cup of tea, but I wouldn't ban anybody from doing so ... I don't want us to get into a world of cancel culture.I'm not going to have run a party where we say you can't talk about that person or that person. We have to be sensible about vetting. And we are. Continue reading...
by Jakub Krupa (now and earlier) and Tom Ambrose (ear on (#79BB1)
Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Store held substantive' talk with Russian president on peace negotiations, but faced sceptical reactions from some European leadersMeanwhile, Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, has warned that Russia's Vladimir Putin is testing us and testing Nato's resolve" as he condemned hybrid threats and state-sponsored terrorism" from Russia.Streeting repeated his recent warnings that we have to be ready for a scenario in which the United Kingdom and the Nato alliance finds itself at war with Russia". He went on:Not because we want war - we have no quarrel with the Russian people, and we have no desire for war with Russia; Nato is a defensive alliance - but when Putin gives assurances that he has no intentions to provoke a war with Nato, we are reminded of what he said about Ukraine only days before the invasion.The more ready we are to face against Russia, to defend every inch of Nato territory, the less likely we are to find ourselves in that scenario.Poland is one of our greatest and certainly our most reliable friend in Europe, and we value and treasure this friendship very much. Continue reading...
Retailers also report jump in purchases of wind-up radios and torches to deal with extreme weather and cyber-attacksSales of tinned foods, bottled water, wind-up radios and torches have surged after the UK government advised households to prepare for emergencies.Retailers have reported a jump in sales of items linked to preparation for emergencies such as extreme weather or cyber-attacks. The Be Ready campaign was launched last week with the aim of persuading households to lay in supplies to last 72 hours. Continue reading...
by Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent on (#79BJ6)
Home Office refused entry to Judith Clark, 77, invited by RSC to speak about restorative justice after her time in prisonHuman rights activists and celebrities including the lawyer Helena Kennedy, the actor Harriet Walter and the theatre director Phyllida Lloyd have urged the Home Office to overturn its decision to refuse a visa to a former member of the radical US group the Weather Underground, saying her decades of rehabilitation should count in her favour.Judith Clark, 77, was the inspiration for Walter's portrayal of prisoners in the Donmar Warehouse all-female Shakespeare trilogy, including Brutus in Julius Caesar and Prospero in The Tempest. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#79BJ7)
Misogyny prevention fund to help tackle sexism at work, school and in public places across UK UK politics live - latest updatesThe chancellor will give 15m to a dedicated fund to tackle misogyny in workplaces, schools and public places amid concerns in government about the rise of manosphere" influencers.The women and equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson, will helm the UK-wide fund, announced last month, marking the first time there has been specific national cash to address misogyny. Continue reading...
Boiler upgrade scheme, which provides grants of up to 9,000 for sustainable alternatives, expected to be slashed in budgetWhen Bill Tuck first started installing air source heat pumps six years ago, other heating engineers were skeptical about whether the green technology would take off. Now, the conversation is completely different," he said.I'm getting approached by them saying: Mrs Jones, my customer for 15 years, she's enquiring about a heat pump. What can you tell me?' The whole narrative has changed." Continue reading...
President has taken an axe to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stalling climate research on and response to extreme weather eventsSweeping cuts to the premier US climate agency under Donald Trump have severely hampered the country's capacity to forecast, research and respond to extreme weather events, former government officials and scientists have warned, as the US faces a cascade of hazards fueled by a potentially historic El Nino this winter.From the start of his second term, the president has taken aim at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), slashing staff levels, canceling contracts and grants, and shutting down databases and research laboratories. The agency that has long been considered a global crown jewel in climate science and forecasting, has lost roughly 20% of its staff since January 2025. Continue reading...
The musician and outspoken critic of the president is suing for $10m in reputational damages - six years after a settlement in which Trump agreed not to use the song againNeil Young is suing Donald Trump's political action committee Trump 47 Committee Inc for $10m (7.47m) over alleged copyright infringement of his song Rockin' in the Free World after the US president used it as walk-up music in recent midterm election rallies.It is the second time that Young has filed against one of Trump's organisations over his unlicenced use of the song. He first did so in 2020, against the corporation Donald J Trump for President Inc. Trump settled, promising, according to Young's suit, that his organisation would never again use Rockin' in the Free World without a license and permission from Young". Continue reading...
Head of Australia's national broadcaster says depiction of globally beloved character ramming politicians with a car breaches intellectual propertyAustralia's national broadcaster will send a cease and desist letter to rightwing populist party One Nation for using Bluey in a shocking and disrespectful" cartoon which sees the beloved character repeatedly ramming politicians with an SUV.ABC managing director Hugh Marks told Senate estimates on Tuesday he became aware of One Nation's potential breach of intellectual property last week and sought legal advice. We will be taking further action, I can assure you," he said. Continue reading...
Casey Sparks inadvertently ended up in Lyerly, Georgia, where he noticed burning home and helped to save familyAn Alabama driver's unintended, GPS-directed detour in Georgia positioned him to help save a couple and a dozen children in their care from a fire that enveloped their home while they slept recently, according to the family and their rescuer.As he recounted in an interview with television station WRCB that quickly went viral among internet circles dedicated to uplifting news stories, James Burke had fallen asleep in his recliner while his wife, 12 adopted children and one grandchild slept in their beds on the night of 17 October in the community of Lyerly, Georgia. Continue reading...
Italian army removes and defuses 250 explosives encased in ice for more than 100 years after hikers' sightingsA significant cache of unexploded bombs from the first world war emerged this summer from rapidly retreating glaciers in the Dolomites, the Italian army has said.The devices, which included Italian artillery shells and French mortar bombs, were removed and defused by the army's Julia Alpine brigade, according to a statement. Continue reading...
Binbag-wielding volunteers clear encampment used by thugs to intimidate opponents of deposed governmentStudent List cleaned up at Serbia's parliamentary elections. So it was only fitting that the morning after a night of raucous celebrations, the movement's supporters were gathering, bin bags in hand, at Pioneers Park, opposite the national assembly building in Belgrade.For the previous 18 months, this small patch of greenery - with its established trees and playground - had been a no-go zone. A pro-government camp known as aciland had taken over the space with convicted criminals living there in white tents, happy to attack journalists, or anyone else who came too close. Police stood by but did nothing to prevent the violence. Continue reading...
Many punters say inconvenience of bus rerouting is small price to pay for more space, but not everyone is happyTo the east of Oxford Circus, there is chaos. A steady stream of red London buses swing round the last junction before the newly pedestrianised Oxford Street begins. The streets are crammed with pedestrians, some squabbling over who poked whom with their umbrella first.To the west, pedestrians walk freely through the temporary bollards on to a green welcome banner rolled along the tarmac, declaring Oxford Street traffic-free. Continue reading...
Foreign affairs minister says party's social media content promotes division and violence as One Nation leader claims Liberal and Labor want cartoons censored
US military says the restrictions on the electric vehicles at Kadena airbase also apply to delivery drivers and taxisOne of America's biggest overseas military bases has banned vehicles made by the Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD over security concerns, the US military in Japan said on Tuesday.The ban, which went into effect this week at Kadena airbase on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, has fueled speculation that similar measures could be taken at other US military facilities as part of Washington's crackdown on Chinese technology it suspects of being used to collect sensitive information. Continue reading...
by Phillip Inman Senior economics writer on (#79B4F)
British Retail Consortium says dam is starting to break on the huge wave of costs' being kept from consumersShop price inflation has risen to the highest level in two and a half years, according to the British Retail Consortium, which warned that the dam is starting to break" when it comes to retailers trying to limit price rises for customers.The lobby group said shop price inflation was 2.1% year on year in October, a sharp rise compared with 1.4% in September, and an indication that retailers were beginning to pass on the rising costs of energy and food ingredients since the Middle East conflict broke out. Continue reading...
Far-right senator banned from leaving country as supreme court judge's ruling makes reference to money-laundering caseThe far-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro was banned from leaving Brazil and ordered to surrender his passports just hours after his dramatic loss in the presidential election to the leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.The ruling was issued by supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes, the same justice who oversaw the trial of the senator's father, the former president Jair Bolsonaro, for attempting a coup. Continue reading...
Controversial mechanism that hit unpaid carers with huge penalties to be scrapped following Guardian investigationThe controversial rule that led to unpaid carers being punished with penalties amounting to thousands of pounds is to be abolished, the Guardian can reveal.The chancellor, John Healey, is to announce a new digital taper system for the so-called carer's allowance in Wednesday's budget, effectively ending what is regarded as one of the UK benefit system's most feared and unfair administrative practices. Continue reading...
Activists say struggle must go on until their maximum' demands are met over teacher shortages and building repairsFrench children should continue to barricade their schools and take part in street protests, a student union said on Monday after the government announced a package of education measures to try to stem the crisis.Today we're at the negotiating table, we're able to negotiate with the government," Pierre Sourzat of Les Lyceens told France Info television. We're in a power struggle and we still need to call for continued mobilisation to meet a maximum of our demands." Continue reading...
Brand, charged with rape and sexual assault, was sleeping with people day and night', former assistant allegesRussell Brand had an insane sexual appetite" and his bad behaviour was normalised and dismissed" by those around him, his former personal assistant has told a court.Helen Berger alleged she had seen Brand treat women badly and that she once had to stop his mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex with someone in his dressing room. Continue reading...
by Emma Graham-Harrison and Julian Borger in Jerusale on (#79AXM)
Israeli prime minister increases alarmist rhetoric as his far-right coalition narrowly trails in pollsBenjamin Netanyahu has resorted to increasingly alarmist rhetoric and reportedly put pressure on Israel's military to take action against Iran as his far-right coalition narrowly trails in the polls ahead of Tuesday's close-run elections.The Israeli prime minister posted an AI-generated image of a nuclear mushroom cloud destroying Tel Aviv, telling Israeli voters to choose him or risk nuclear annihilation. Continue reading...
Badr Albusaidi calls for security pact involving Gulf states, Iraq and Iran with US no longer primary provider of securityThe Middle East's ability to solve its problems has been held back by America's 50-year insistence that the Gulf states should view Iran as a security threat, Oman's foreign minister said on Monday in a significant speech designed to break the deadlock over the region's future.Badr Albusaidi called for a non-aggression security pact involving all six Gulf states as well as Iran and Iraq. The US would in future no longer be the primary provider of security, he said. Continue reading...
The actor appeared in the cult 1960s show as well as many of the films but also worked as a writerWalter Koenig, the actor known for playing Pavel Chekov throughout the Star Trek franchise, has died, his representative confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter. He was 90.Koenig died at his home in North Hollywood surrounded by his daughter and niece, according to a Facebook post by Zachery McGinnis, the founder of Galactic Productions, an appearance agency that counted the actor as one of its clients. His death was attributed to old age", with no other details provided.This article was amended on 26 October, 2026 to correct details on Koenig's cameo on Star Trek: Picard. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#79AFS)
Industrial action by senior doctors to begin on 25 November with only emergency cover provided, BMA saysEngland's most senior hospital doctors will strike next month in a dispute over their pay and hours, prompting NHS bosses to warn that patients will suffer pain, discomfort and inconvenience".Consultant doctors, who earn an average of 152,000 a year inclusive of overtime and merit awards, will stage a two-day walkout on 25 and 26 November, as hospitals gear up for the extra pressures winter brings. Continue reading...
Clarification comes after PM fuelled speculation about EU-UK relationship in series of interviews at weekendDowning Street has been forced to clarify Andy Burnham's stance on whether the UK would return to having freedom of movement with the EU after the prime minister said an honest discussion" was needed on the issue.Burnham fuelled speculation about a return to freedom of movement in an interview at the weekend, prompting questions about how close the UK could become to Brussels. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian