Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is standing against Flavio Bolsonaro in the first round of the presidential raceThe incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is up against Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is in prison for plotting a military coup. The president in Brazil is directly elected, and candidates need more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second round. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips and Tiago Rogero in Rio de Janeiro on (#78TWC)
Far-right challenger and son of disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro put in a stronger than expected showing, with Lula calling the result unexpected'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.With more than 99% of votes counted, the 45-year-old son of the disgraced former president, Jair Bolsonaro, had won 47.1%, meaning he will now face a 25 October showdown with his 80-year-old rival. Lula received 45%. Continue reading...
Union says staff left with no choice but industrial action after breakdown in pay talks with Texas oil firm ApacheA looming strike by oil workers in the North Sea could severely disrupt" UK fuel supplies, the Unite union has said, adding that staff were left with no choice after a breakdown in pay talks with the Texas oil company Apache.The union said Apache workers had emphatically" backed strike action after being given what it said was an unacceptable pay offer that amounted to a real-terms pay cut for many employees, at a time when the company was raking in eye-watering profits". Continue reading...
Many cases involve criminals using other people's identities to sell fake event tickets to friends and familyThe total amount stolen by criminals who hack into people's emails and social media accounts and then pretend to be them has risen by more than 400% in a year, official UK data shows.In many cases, the scammers are hijacking people's accounts in order to use their identity to sell fake event tickets - such as to sold-out gigs - to unsuspecting friends and family. Continue reading...
Only 150 of 2,189 titles published in UK for young children last year focused on minority ethnic, disabled or neurodivergent charactersThe number of children's books featuring Black main characters fell by almost 8% last year, according to research into diversity in UK publishing.Just 47 - or 2.1% - of the 2,189 books published for under-10s in 2025 featured a Black main character, a 7.8% fall from the previous year, according to Inclusive Books for Children. Black children make up about 8.5% of that age bracket in England and Wales. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#78TT4)
Shadow chancellor will also promise to scrap affordable homes regulations as part of strategy to refocus on growthThe Conservatives will announce a bonfire of regulations including abolishing affordable homes and community funding rules as well as scrapping Natural England and the Environment Agency.The shadow chancellor, Andrew Griffith, will say the party intends to streamline regulations" that protect nature and oblige developers to include affordable homes and community services such as GP surgeries, to speed up infrastructure and housebuilding. Continue reading...
Staunchly pro-Russia politician has dominated campaign and inflamed divisions despite not appearing on ballotBosnian Serb nationalist politician Milorad Dodik has declared victory for his party in an election in Bosnia shaped by economic pressures, the prospect of the Balkan nation joining the European Union and ethnic tensions that have divided the country since its brutal 1992-95 war.Dodik is a staunchly pro-Russia politician who, despite not appearing on the ballot, has dominated the campaign and inflamed divisions with separatist rhetoric that has sparked fears of renewed instability in Bosnia. 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
Home secretary warns people traffickers will exploit asylum seekers because they decide who comes to the UKNearly all women who try to reach the UK in small boats from northern France have been raped on their journey, Shabana Mahmood has claimed.In an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast, the home secretary said far-right, balaclava-wearing activists would kill" or kick me out of my own country" if they took power. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#78TMB)
Motion calling for single Palestinian state, which is opposed by most Green MPs and expected to be challenged, passes by 1,022 votes to 813The Greens have formally adopted a policy that equates Zionism with racism and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state, a move opposed by the bulk of the party's MPs and which is expected to face legal challenge.Zack Polanski, who heads the Greens in England and Wales and missed the vote at the party's conference in Brighton to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, has faced criticism for a perceived lack of leadership on a hugely divisive issue. Continue reading...
Party formally adopts policy which equates Zionism with racism, as all Green party votes to adopt policy that equates Zionism with racismOn Friday the Times revealed that Katie Lam, the communities secretary, told a meeting in private earlier this year that the state pension system needs a fundamental overhaul.Speaking in June, when she was a frontbencher but not yet in the shadow cabinet, Lam was asked at a meeting with activists if she thought the pensions triple lock was sustainable. She replied:Ultimately I think what we will need in the end is an entirely new pension system.I mean, a baby that is born today has a 20% chance of living to be 100 and I don't think we can fund one in five people half of their lives, you know, for the first 20 and the last 30 years. But obviously if you are 90 you probably can't go out and get a job right, so I think you have to be realistic about how you would taper that and bring that in across the population.The fact is, the triple lock and pensions are things that people have contributed to.Conservatives believe that if you have contributed, then you deserve to get your state pension. Continue reading...
Attack shortly after Friedrich Merz arrived 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 tens of 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...
Calls for release of six Matsadaash staff after one is charged, while whereabouts of other five remain unknownAn Egyptian journalist has been charged with joining a terrorist group, days after an entire newsroom was detained in what rights groups have said is a crackdown on press freedoms.Last week, authorities arrested six journalists from the independent fact-checking and investigative platform Matsadaash - literally meaning don't believe" - accusing them in a statement of being unlicensed and publishing false news on behalf of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Continue reading...
Reform UK leader was interviewed for half an hour last month over money from crypto billionaireNigel Farage has been interviewed by the standards commissioner for an investigation into whether he should have declared a 5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.The Reform UK leader spent about half an hour being questioned over the money, the Sunday Times reported. Farage maintains the gift was for his personal security. Continue reading...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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