Conservatives plan new integrated air and missile defence system to protect Britain from attackAsked if she will propose tax cuts in her speech tomorrow, Badenoch tells McCann that she will have to wait until her speech tomorrow at 11.15am.(This is getting confusing. On BBC Breakdfast, Badenoch told Jon Kay the speech was at 12pm.)It's not going to be exactly like the Iron Dome. We haven't called it an Iron Dome. Continue reading...
Four members of disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's family have been elected to office, most notably his wife and son Flavio, who won the first round of voting to be Brazil's new presidentThe weekend's elections in Brazil not only put Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son, Flavio Bolsonaro, in the lead in the presidential race, but also underscored how far the former president has come in building a political dynasty.As his far-right senator son heads into a runoff against the leftist incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a sweeping far-right victory in congressional races also secured seats for Jair Bolsonaro's wife, two of his sons and one of his brothers. Continue reading...
by Philip Oltermann European culture editor on (#78VSW)
Researchers argue incorrect binding of Voynich manuscript radically changes ideas about its drawings and indecipherable textIt has been called the world's most mysterious manuscript: a medieval set of pages filled with botanical drawings, astronomical diagrams, pictures of nude women and indecipherable text. Claimed at various times to be a book in a lost language, a musical score, an instruction manual or just an elaborate hoax, the so-called Voynich manuscript's true meaning has defied cryptographers and codebreakers for centuries.Now, new research offers an explanation for why a scholarly consensus over this enduring puzzle has been so hard to come by: not only because its truth is so profoundly mysterious - but because everyone has been reading its pages in the wrong order. Continue reading...
Former Duke of York is attempting to quash search warrants that led to his arrest in FebruaryAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been warned not to use the king's private money to fund his legal action against Thames Valley police.The former Duke of York is attempting to quash search warrants that led to his arrest, with a private high court hearing due to take place on Thursday. Continue reading...
The country's 85-medal haul included athletes who trained with limited money and borrowed equipment. Plus, the Mumbai performer turning everyday absurdities into comedyIn a country where cricket eclipses every other sport, the recently concluded Asian Games offered a much-needed reminder of India's breadth of sporting talent. In this edition of the games, in Japan, India won 85 medals: 21 golds, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals. I admit I did not know many of the players competing, or even some of the sports they play before putting this piece together. Learning about the stories, I wonder why not.There were individual breakthroughs, records broken and history made. There were also hard-fought team victories, including the Indian women's hockey team gold medal after a 44-year wait. Continue reading...
Seven women share their stories to make people aware of patterns of violence behind anti-immigration street patrol movementDuring their relationship, Lisa's ex-partner was controlling. He kept her at home where he was emotionally and physically abusive towards her, including once attacking her with a machete.These days, he runs protests outside houses of multiple occupancy that he claims are housing asylum seekers. He coordinates groups of men to patrol the streets of his town, claiming to protect women but often using these patrols to profile and target men of colour. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The party has voted to define Zionism as racist and back a single Palestinian state. But what does the policy mean, why has it caused alarm among Jewish members, and how will it impact the future of the Greens?Good morning.The Green party of England and Wales is in turmoil. Following a vote to adopt a policy that equates Zionism with racism, and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state with equal rights for all", some Jewish members say they are considering whether they are welcome in the party.RAF Fairford | No 10 has insisted the Gloucestershire base is secure a day after the US air force suddenly withdrew a dozen B-1 bombers that had been stationed there amid security concerns about a possible threat from Iran.Donald Trump | Donald Trump's approval ratings reached a record low on Monday, according to new opinion polls. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump's approval rating at a record-low 32%.Brazilian elections | Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro, is poised to win the Brazilian presidency, after a shock first-round victory.Jeffrey Archer | Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling author and former MP whose political career ended in disgrace when he was imprisoned for perjury, has died at the age of 86.Cancer | Cases of seven types of cancer have risen sharply among younger people in England, major new research has found, prompting warnings that lifestyle choices are costing thousands of lives each year. Continue reading...
International leaders visit Tuvalu as part of climate talks co-hosted by Australia ahead of Cop31 conferencePacific island leaders have urged a promised global transition away from fossil fuels must not be left open to renegotiation as they gather in tiny Tuvalu in a bid to build momentum before a major climate summit.About 50 dignitaries - 14 national heads including Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, a list of climate change ministers and the heads of global agencies - flew to the low-lying atoll nation in a bid to bring attention to the plight of the countries most at risk from the climate crisis. Continue reading...
Civilians try to flee as men and boys rounded up on streets by new alliance as Ethiopia conflict erupts againAs renewed fighting has threatened a fresh humanitarian crisis in the northern region of Ethiopia, reports are emerging that a new alliance of armed groups in Tigray has been forcibly recruiting men and boys to its ranks.Renewed conflict erupted on 23 September between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which rules the region, shattering the fragile Pretoria peace agreement signed between the two sides in November 2022. Continue reading...
by Anna Bawden Health and social affairs corresponden on (#78VRT)
Researchers, who looked at UK, US and Dutch data, say lifestyle choices are costing thousands of lives a yearCases of seven types of cancer have risen sharply among younger people in England, major new research has found, prompting warnings that lifestyle choices are costing thousands of lives each year.The number of people under 50 diagnosed with prostate cancer in England has quadrupled since 2001, while early onset bowel, kidney and uterine cancer diagnoses more than doubled. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Guardian analysis finds more than 150,000 tonnes of fuel was shipped to Russian ports in July and August, some using sanctioned tankersOil is being shipped from South Korea to Russia via sanctioned tankers as Moscow scrambles for supplies amid the war in Ukraine, a move one expert said undermines" Seoul's public backing for Kyiv.Guardian analysis of port records and ship-tracking data found that in July and August over 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, was loaded at several South Korean ports on to seven tankers that made 14 voyages to Russia's far east. Continue reading...
English Heritage acquires film of first re-enactment, a lot of pushing and shoving' between Kent and Sussex studentsAt the top of a hill in a field near Hastings, a group of defiant English combatants awaited the invading army of William the Conqueror, brandishing their spears and shouting Harold! Harold!".Unfortunately, the Norman army had been held up in traffic on the A27 from Brighton, meaning the most significant battle in English history had to be delayed by 20 minutes while the French got into their costumes. Continue reading...
by Lauren Gambino, Joseph Gedeon, Andrew Roth, Will C on (#78VM3)
The war with Iran is reshaping America ahead of the midterms - how will it affect US voters at the polls? Join us for a live conversation on 6 October at 12pm ET with political and global correspondents
Publisher says author died peacefully at home between writing sessions'Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling author and former MP whose political career ended in disgrace when he was imprisoned for perjury, has died at the age of 86.Archer, who was a Conservative MP for five years before serving as the party's deputy chair, died suddenly and peacefully" at his home between writing sessions" on Monday, his publisher HarperCollins said. Continue reading...
Party to unveil plans for one of UK's most significant military programmes since the cold war'The Conservatives will announce plans to build a 10bn British Iron Dome" similar to Israel's air and missile defence system, which the party will christen Britannia Shield" in an announcement at conference on Tuesday.The shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge, will say Britain needs to be ready to defend itself from potential aerial attacks and that new investment was needed in advanced radar and interceptor missiles. Continue reading...
British Airways Boeing abruptly lost altitude over Ireland due to technical issue' and returned to HeathrowA flight from London to Chicago declared an emergency after a sudden and steep descent of 28,000 feet over Ireland and was forced to turn back to Britain.British Airways flight BA295 was bound for Chicago's O'Hare airport but after a technical issue" during which oxygen masks were deployed from the ceiling, the plane landed safely back at London Heathrow. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips and Tiago Rogero in Rio de Janeiro on (#78VBH)
Progressive voters and supporters of incumbent president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva left reeling after far-right surgeFlavio Bolsonaro is in pole position to win Brazil's presidential election, after a far-right tsunami propelled him to a shock first-round victory over the incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, leaving progressive voters reeling.The 45-year-old rightwing candidate received 56.1m votes to Lula's 53.8m - 47.03% to 45.16% - meaning the 80-year-old leftwinger has a mountain to climb if he is to bounce back in the second round on 25 October. Never, since the return of democracy to Brazil in 1985, has the first-round runner-up managed to turn the game around and win the second ballot. Continue reading...
Party has common enemy in defectors, while Nigel Farage's woes have given some insiders reason to hopeDuring a quick-fire Q&A at the Conservative party conference this weekend, Kemi Badenoch was asked who she would pick between Robert Jenrick or Suella Braverman.Why do you keep offering me these? It's like asking if I'd rather be shot or drowned," the Tory leader responded with her trademark directness. Continue reading...
Experts say strength of evangelical church and perception that Lula is too old also helped propel Jair Bolsonaro's son to first-round election winOn Sunday night, as the scale of the far-right triumph in Brazil sank in, an adapted football chant rang out in one of Rio's most leftwing areas.Let's turn this around, Lu-laaaaa! Let's turn this around, Lu-laaaaa! Let's turn this around, Lu-laaaaa!" crestfallen progressives bellowed while drowning their sorrows after witnessing an excruciating election setback for their leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Continue reading...
Former prince to challenge whether Thames Valley force and central criminal court of England and Wales acted lawfully over searches relating to his arrestAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking action against Thames Valley police and the central criminal court to challenge the legality of search warrants that led to his arrest this year, a judicial spokesperson has said.A private high court hearing is scheduled to take place before Mr Justice Hilliard on Thursday to determine whether documents related to the former Duke of York's call for a judicial review can be made public, with Thames Valley police and the central criminal court of England and Wales in opposition. Continue reading...
Tit-for-tat expulsions expected after relations deteriorate as a result of UK ban on goods from illegal settlementsThe UK has threatened to expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced to leave Israel as a result of Israel's decision to close the UK consulate in East Jerusalem later this week.This could means as many as 27 Israeli diplomats being expelled from the UK, a step that would arguably mark the lowest point in British-Israeli diplomatic relations since the formation of the state of Israel. Continue reading...
A researcher at a climate change think tank says the Conservative policy would be a disaster for first time buyers'Yesterday, as a gimmick, the Tories were handing out Bottler Burnham" bottles of water (0% strength") to make a point about Burnham supposedly cancelling plans for an early election under pressure from the Tories. It is a version of a stunt they pulled in 2008 when they gave journalists bottles of a Bottler Brown" beer. (Gordon Brown did pull plans for an early election at the last minute; this time the jibe is unfair, because there were no Burnham plans for an early election.)The new bottles feature the image of Burnham produced by the Manchester artist Stan Chow.The SNP's effective ban on new nuclear energy in Scotland flies in the face of common-sense.No part of Great Britain should be missing out on plans for new nuclear renewal. Continue reading...
Camera-enabled Meta spectacles are already restricted in UK and US because of fears about covert recordingNorway is planning a temporary ban on smart glasses in some public places, amid rising global concern at the spread of the AI-enabled recording devices.The Oslo government is planning a bill to prevent the use of the camera-enabled spectacles in parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres, schools, daycare centres, healthcare facilities, gyms and public events, although private use would still be allowed. Continue reading...
by Eve Livingston Scotland correspondent on (#78VBG)
Strong and fair' proposal to be taken to members' ballot after previous offer led Unison to walk out of negotiationsGlasgow city council has reached an agreement with the trade union Unison over pay and grading, averting one of the UK's biggest ever fire-and-rehire exercises.Talks between the council and the GMB, Unite and Unison unions previously broke down when Unison refused to ballot its members on a new pay and grading system, designed to resolve historical equal pay issues. Continue reading...
Hundreds of schools in France remain closed amid planned demonstrations across the countryThe conservative People's Party is very pleased with the announcement.At last," they say on their X, with a slick election video - set to the EU's anthem Ode to Joy" - to go along with it.Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has called a snap election for 29 November, just days after rightwing parties blocked his minority government's emergency measures on housing amid widespread protests (9:10).The election will take place on Sunday, 29 November, the earliest possible date procedurally.In a fierce address, Sanchez framed the election as choice between regressing" under a far-right coalition" or keeping moving forward" with his progressive administration (9:04, 9:09, 9:17).He said the election will be about who will guide Spain through a period of disruption amid high political tensions, global instability, climate emergency, and uncertainty posed by the rise of AI (9:13). Continue reading...
Party in England and Wales ditches commitment to phase out nuclear in major shift in its energy policyGreen party members have voted to end the party's opposition to nuclear power, dropping a commitment to phase out the technology in a major shift in its energy policy.The motion, adopted at conference, removes a blanket opposition to nuclear fission" and instead commits the Green party of England and Wales to assessing nuclear projects alongside other low-carbon technologies. Continue reading...
Departure comes amid large drop in oil receipts, rampant inflation and shrinking economyIran's oil minister has resigned days after allegations that an intermediary trust selling Iranian oil abroad owed millions of dollars' worth of export receipts to the state.Mohsen Paknejad's departure comes as Iran grapples with a dire economic situation, including inflation running at 85%. An overall drop in oil receipts has led to a massive shortfall in foreign exchange earnings and one of the biggest drops in the value of the rial since the Iranian revolution in 1979. Continue reading...
Public figures back commissioner's call for government commitment to funding legal support for those affectedThe singer and television personality Mel B has said she is heartbroken" by the Windrush scandal victims' fight for justice, as the Windrush commissioner urged ministers to commit to providing funding for legal support for those affected by the end of October.In April, the Guardian revealed that the Home Office had refused to pay compensation in more than half the claims made by victims of the scandal, in which mainly Black Britons who came legally to postwar Britain were wrongly stripped of citizenship and settlement rights. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Guardian Australia investigation reveals state governments use shared graves to bury those deemed too poor to pay for funerals. It's unspeakable,' one relative says
Prime minister orders ministers to tackle students' five major demands, including organising replacement teachers and school repairsHundreds of schools in France remained fully or partially closed on Monday as teenagers continued to blockade buildings and the government struggled to contain the biggest youth protest movement in years.A 15-year-old protesting against what the demonstrators say are France's dilapidated and understaffed schools had his hand blown off on Monday in the northern town of Lens, the local prefect Francois-Xavier Lauch said. Continue reading...
After Guardian investigation uncovered drone strike that killed 12 civilians and injured many more, seven-year-old Abdiqadir Salah underwent vital operation in MogadishuOn the rickshaw ride to the hospital, Marian Haji Abdi Guled felt a mixture of joy and apprehension: the day they had been waiting for had finally arrived.Almost a year earlier, her then seven-year-old son, Abdiqadir Salah, had been seriously injured, alongside his two siblings, in what a Guardian investigation found was a US drone strike on the village of Jamaame in Somalia that killed at least 12 civilians, including eight children. Continue reading...
Culture of silence and fears of exclusion means aviation workers less likely to seek help for mental health issuesPilots and air traffic controllers in the US could soon have an easier time achieving a healthy mental altitude - a move with implications for the safety of air travel in America.The US Senate recently approved bills aimed at encouraging aviation professionals struggling with a mental health condition get treatment. Continue reading...
Flavio Bolsonaro is favorite to win 25 October runoff against 80-year-old incumbent leftwing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Plus the pawsome' new recruit to Mexico's national guardGood morning. Brazil's presidential race will go to a second round after the far-right candidate, Flavio Bolsonaro, beat the incumbent leftwing president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but failed to secure the outright majority he needed to avoid a runoff.The 45-year-old son of the disgraced former president Jair Bolsonaro will go into the second round as strong favourite, likely to pick up votes from the election's other rightwing candidates, including Ronaldo Caiado, who secured 2.1%, and Renan Santos, who won 2.2%. The second round will take place on 25 October.How have Bolsonarista politicians taken a grip on Brazil? Brazil's far right put in an even stronger than expected showing, with a succession of Bolsonarista politicians winning congressional or gubernatorial races. They included Jair Bolsonaro's second son, Carlos Bolsonaro, and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, who both won seats in the senate. Bolsonaro's youngest son, Jair Renan Bolsonaro, was elected to the lower house of congress.What has been the latest response from Cornell University? In a video message, the Cornell University president, Michael Kotlikoff, said the school would take a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life", adding: At their best, these organisations can provide students with friendship, belonging, mentorship and a powerful sense of community. But being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility." Continue reading...
Precautions in place in several hospitals in eastern Russia amid uncertainty over death of Darya ShipilovaSeveral hospitals in Siberia have been placed under quarantine after the death of a woman who worked at an anti-plague institute.Darya Shipilova, an employee at an institute in the eastern city of Irkutsk, died on the night of 2 October at a regional hospital in the nearby town of Shelekhov two days after falling ill. Continue reading...
Three scientists to share 12m Swedish kronor prize for their work on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics'The Nobel prize in physiology or medicine 2026 has been awarded to three scientists for their work on investigating the mysteries of the brain.Karl Deisseroth of both Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Peter Hegemann of the Humboldt University of Berlin, and Georg Nagel of the University of Wurzburg have been awarded the prize for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.". Continue reading...
Musician who had hit albums with Racine and Rats later became a judge on six seasons of Canadian IdolSass Jordan, the singer-songwriter who became a significant success in Canada's rock scene in the 1990s before starring as a judge on Canadian Idol, has died aged 65.No cause of death has been given. A statement on social media said she died on 2 October surrounded by her loving family ... She remains in our hearts, an inimitable force of nature. An irreplaceable being of light and joy!" Continue reading...
Demonstrators gather in south coast town as nearly 150 people trying to reach UK by small boat brought ashoreAnti-migrant protesters have scuffled with police in Gosport, Hampshire, as they opposed the rescuing of nearly 150 people trying to reach the UK by small boat.The demonstrators gathered in the south coast town as news of the vessel's expected arrival spread. It was the second time protesters had targeted the town amid rumours of rescued people disembarking there. Continue reading...
Percentage who feel very emotionally attached to Israel' rose to 51% in June 2025, up 13 points from before Gaza warBritish Jews have become more likely to identify as Zionist, consider emigrating to Israel, and feel a close attachment to the country since the 7 October attacks, research has found.A study from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) titled October 8 Jews: The Impact of October 7 on British Jewish Identity", by Dr David Graham, found the percentage of British Jews who identified as Zionist rose seven points to 66%, between 2022 and 2025. By June 2025, the numbers who felt antisemitism in the UK was a very big problem" had tripled to 50%. Continue reading...
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