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Trump heads to Ohio while Vance travels to North Carolina; Republican US senator Lisa Murkowski endorses Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, breaking with her party

Pedro Sanchez says the government will act with urgency to clarify what has happened, why this tragedy occurred'

Brand, 51, who has been charged with three counts of rape says he acted consensually'

OBR says that living standards are forecast to rise by just 1% over the whole post-Covid decade

Former comedian, in court on rape and sexual assault charges, denies setting goal to sleep with 5,000 womenRussell Brand has told a court he had an obsession with sex as a younger man but denied setting himself a goal" to sleep with 5,000 women.The former comedian, 51, said as he gave evidence in his rape trial that he had never forced himself on a woman, telling jurors consent was non-negotiable" and more important than sex itself". Continue reading...

The $72.5m suit alleges Scott Jennings falsely told listeners Piker had a plan of returning our country to lynchings'The prominent socialist political commentator and influencer Hasan Piker is suing his conservative counterpart Scott Jennings for $72.5m over comments on a podcast that he said portrayed him as a violent racist" who advocated the lynching of Black people.Piker's defamation lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in US district court for the District of Columbia, states that Jennings misrepresented his comments in a podcast and subsequent social media post in August. Continue reading...

Judge says he will consider all options to sentence far-right activist who trial heard deployed bullyboy, intimidatory tactics'Tommy Robinson faces up to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of harassing two journalists to the point it caused them fear of violence.Journalists from the Daily Mail and their family members fled their homes after bullyboy, intimidatory tactics" were deployed by the far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, his trial was told. Continue reading...

Projections show votes for Palestinian parties surged in a tight contest that saw the highest turnout in decades

Opposition bloc and Netanyahu's coalition predicted to fall short of 61 seats needed to form a government, while Palestinian parties set for big gains

Questions were raised before Toledo crash over rail safety in a country where train travel has surged by 40%

As USS Colorado showcases the program in Perth, Peter Briggs says personnel is just one of the huge issues' it faces

British pharma company reports declining profits amid weaker vaccine sales and looming patent loss for blockbuster HIV drug

John Healey is announcing his financial update - here are the main points, with political analysis

Far-right senator and family set to land in Miami after crossing into Argentina and flying into and out of EcuadorThe jet carrying the far-right Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro has left Guayaquil in Ecuador and is on its way to Miami, Florida, where it is expected to arrive mid-morning on Wednesday.After losing Sunday night's election to the incumbent president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro disappeared for more than 24 hours, until Argentina's migration authorities said he had entered the country by land on Tuesday night. Continue reading...

Jean Kaseya, of the Africa CDC, warns of the illness spreading like Covid unless more funding is secured to increase preparedness and possible treatmentThe unprecedented" spread of the Ebola outbreak means it could reach the UK and other countries, according to one of Africa's top health officials.As the current outbreak reached 10,000 cases, with almost 5,000 deaths, Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compared the outbreak to the Covid pandemic, which first took hold in China before spreading to countries across the world, claiming millions of lives, and ravaging health systems and economies. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Health secretary to extend role of watchdog, which backers say helps hold service in England to accountYvette Cooper has abandoned plans to abolish the NHS's independent patient champion after an outcry from MPs across the political spectrum.The health secretary has decided to keep and extend the role of Healthwatch England, which was due to be axed as part of the government's reorganisation of the health service in England.axe the Health Services Safety Investigations Body.end councils' automatic representation on the boards of ICBs.remove the requirement for a nurse on every NHS foundation trust board. Continue reading...

Experts say symptoms such as dark circles under the eyes, grey skin, cracked lips and hair loss can be a warning sign - but there are other factors tooTikTok is rife with influencers warning of ferritin face", a term they use to describe the pallor, dark circles, dry skin, and hair loss claimed to indicate low iron stores. But is this based on fact or fiction, and when is it time to head to the GP? Continue reading...

On budget day chancellor says he will ask Ofgem to remove unfair and outdated' fixed daily fee in 2027 or soon after

Royal tour of Caribbean comes as poll suggests majority support among younger Britons for dialogue on slavery reparationsKing Charles has confirmed he will discuss the legacy of slavery at a summit with Commonwealth leaders as he begins his Caribbean tour.The king arrived in the Bahamas on Tuesday to a ceremonial welcome and attended a youth rally at Clifford Park, the site where the country officially gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1973. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: First Edition readers and people struggling with the cost of living tell us what the government could do to improve their livesGood morning. Don't expect anything radical. This, the Treasury has been at pains to tell us, will be a very low-key" budget. After weeks of speculation from journalists, a flurry of press releases from thinktanks, and a photoshoot with an obligatory red box, the chancellor, John Healey, will announce the details of the Burnham government's first budget in the Commons today at 12:30pm.Healey has been selling this as a series of measures designed to relieve pressure on low- and middle-income households under the mangled tagline of breathing space for today, fresh hope for the future". Many of the proposals have already been briefed, and their modesty is a sign of the constraints - both real and self-imposed - that his government faces. He has rejected calls to raise capital gains tax or lower the mansion tax and has promised to stick to Labour's fiscal rules, while the Iran war has increased the cost of borrowing and eroded his spending power.Israeli elections | Israel could be in for weeks of political haggling after exit polls and partial official results showed neither Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition nor the opposition bloc led by former general Gadi Eisenkot had won enough seats to form a government.Energy | The government's plan to fund a multibillion-pound nuclear plant at the Sizewell site in Suffolk represents a terrible deal" for the UK taxpayer over the rest of the century, according to the government's spending watchdog.Middle East | A multipronged peace deal to reopen the strait of Hormuz within four days of sanctions being lifted and for the Houthis to withdraw substantial forces inside Yemen are at the heart of Gulf states' plans to avert what they regard as a disastrous renewal of war between Iran and the US.UK news | A 78-year-old volunteer has claimed a Reform UK councillor accused her of facilitating the invasion" and being akin to a Nazi collaborator during the second world war because she has helped asylum seekers learn English.Brazil | The 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. Continue reading...

Far-right senator and his family boarded private plane to Ecuador after crossing border to Argentina, Argentina's government confirmsThe 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, who called the act shameful".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...

Tony Blair's former spokesperson says attacks on UK MPs did not bring about lasting cultural change and overheated rhetoric quickly returned to politics

Struggling households, new homebuyers and small shops stand to gain, while banks and online marketplaces could face higher leviesJohn Healey will present his first budget on Wednesday, which will set the tone for Andy Burnham's premiership.Despite the chancellor's promises in the summer that the tax and spending event would not be beset by the leaks that preceded those of his predecessor, Rachel Reeves, both official and unofficial sources have indicated much of what Healey is likely to announce. Here's what to expect: Continue reading...

Mair Godley claims Essex councillor Carl Johnson told her she was facilitating the invasion' by giving language lessonsA 78-year-old volunteer has claimed a Reform UK councillor accused her of facilitating the invasion" and being akin to a Nazi collaborator during the second world war because she has helped asylum seekers learn English.Mair Godley and her husband, Nick, 77, a former chair of Wethersfield parish council, live near the former Wethersfield military base in Essex, where the Home Office accommodates hundreds of asylum seekers. Continue reading...

As next week's all-but certain rate rise looms, there is one thing we can all agree on: the end of war in the Middle East can't come soon enoughJim Chalmers is blaming the latest shocking inflation figures on the worsening Middle East conflict, and he has a point.The trouble is, voters aren't buying what the treasurer is selling. Continue reading...

National trust of Victoria award celebrates much-loved arboreal icons while calling for protection of green spaces

Exclusive: ASU launches Ben Lied. Labor lies' ads while ETU diverts money to defending members at royal commission

Victorian court of appeal to hand down judgment on triple-murderer's conviction and sentence after her lawyers argued she was denied fair trialThe decision in Erin Patterson's appeal against her triple murder conviction will be handed down on Friday, with Victoria's highest court also set to rule on whether she could face more time in prison.The court of appeal will rule on the two appeals from 10am on Friday, after hearing arguments in August. Continue reading...

This blog had now closed - our live coverage continues hereAcross Israel, voting is now under way. Here are some of the latest images being sent to us over the newswires:Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad have flown in for the elections, according to Aid Coalition, a US-based nonprofit focused on strengthening Israel's democracy. Israeli law generally requires citizens to vote in person in the country, with narrow exceptions for diplomats and certain official emissaries abroad. Continue reading...

CPI release comes ahead of Reserve Bank decision next week as the Middle East conflict intensifies the cost-of-living crisis

That '70s Show actor was sentenced to 30 years in prison for two counts of rape against two women, who were also ScientologistsDanny Masterson has lost the appeal of his rape conviction, meaning his 30-year prison sentence has been upheld.The actor, best known for his role on That '70s Show, was convicted in 2023 of two counts of rape against two women in 2003, while a third charge relating to a third plaintiff, who alleged she was raped by Masterson in 2001, was quashed.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

Exit polls indicate opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot will have to work with Arab-Israeli leaders to have a hope of governing

Healey hopes to give hope for the future' but only modest policies are expected with important decisions deferredJohn Healey has acknowledged the UK faces a difficult moment" but insisted he would put the country on a better path as he delivers his first budget on Wednesday against a turbulent global economic backdrop.But despite the international uncertainty, the chancellor will signal fresh hope for the future" as he attempts to sound a more optimistic note, by providing households with breathing space from rising cost of living pressures. Continue reading...

Early indications suggest it will be some time before the shape of new government and who will lead it is clear

Oren, Alon and Tal Alexander sentenced to prison in New York after being convicted in sex trafficking caseThree Florida brothers who exploited the wealth and influence of their family's luxury real estate business to drug and rape dozens of women were each sentenced to 30 years in prison in New York on Tuesday for sex trafficking.Twins Oren and Alon Alexander, 39, and Tal Alexander, 40, were convicted in March on multiple charges after a five-week trial heard details of years of sexual assaults committed in Miami, New York and other high-end locations including the Hamptons; Aspen, Colorado, and on a Caribbean cruise. Continue reading...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

From everyday fixes', party management and communications to long-term plans for care and pensions, the PM's six key acts so far