Melbourne food stylist Caroline Velik wins speciality dish category and places second in Golden Spurtle food fight behind Norwegian first-timerOnly an Australian would bring a toastie to a porridge fight - and walk away with a trophy.As other competitors stirred oats and debated salt ratios, the Melbourne food stylist Caroline Velik took out one of the top awards at this year's World Porridge Making Championships in Carrbridge, Scotland. Continue reading...
Election becomes unpredictable two-horse contest after political novice quits over debt revelationsOne of the three main candidates in Ireland's presidential election has quit the race in a bombshell announcement that has upended the contest.Fianna Fail's Jim Gavin withdrew on Sunday night after revelations about an unpaid debt to a former tenant, turning the election into an unpredictable two-horse race between a centre-right former government minister and an independent leftwing member of parliament. Continue reading...
Scrutiny on the nine justices is about to reach a new level of intensity as Trump aggressively asserts executive powerContext may be everything in the precedent-shattering era of the current US supreme court.For several years - since conservatives, gained a six-three majority on the bench thanks to Donald Trump's nominations during his first presidency - the court has been delivering transformative rulings that have reverberated across the social and political landscape. Continue reading...
by Maurice Chammah of the Marshall Project on (#70HXS)
Experts say checklist devised in 1970s that helped convict Robert Roberson pushing juries into harsher punishmentsRobert Roberson faces execution in Texas on 16 October for the 2002 murder of his young daughter Nikki Curtis. For years, a growing pool of supporters - from the lead detective in his case to Dr Phil - have argued Roberson is innocent. They say doctors and prosecutors blamed him for Nikki's death through a faulty diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.But that was not the only diagnosis that sent Roberson to death row. After he was found guilty, a psychologist named Thomas Allen interviewed him using the Psychopathy Checklist-revised. Sometimes called the psychopath test", it measures traits such as a person's impulsivity and lack of remorse. Allen gave Roberson a high score, told the jury he was a psychopath, and compared him to Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein. The implication was that Roberson would continue to be dangerous, although Allen said the risk was much smaller if he were in prison.This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletters, and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and Facebook. Continue reading...
Sebastien Lecornu quits after Emmanuel Macron unveiled largely unchanged cabinet lineupFrance's political crisis has deepened after the new prime minister dramatically resigned within hours of appointing a new government.Sebastien Lecornu was the third French prime minister in a year, as the country continued to lurch from one political crisis to another. He quit hours before his first cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon. Macron accepted Lecornu's resignation on Monday morning. Continue reading...
At least 200 people still stranded after unseasonally heavy snowfall during china's Golden Week holidayTrekkers have described facing extreme" conditions after an unseasonable snowstorm during one of China's busiest holiday weekends stranded hundreds of people on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue effort.Chinese authorities said about 350 people had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border. Continue reading...
CIPS survey shows cyber threats have risen up the list of concerns for procurement managersAlmost a third of bosses have reported an increase in cyber-attacks on their supply chains over the past six months, as the fallout from devastating hacks on corporate stalwarts including Jaguar Land Rover highlighted a growing threat to businesses.Cyber threats have risen up the list of concerns for procurement managers at hundreds of companies worldwide across industries including manufacturing, energy and technology, according to a survey conducted in September by industry body the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (Cips). Continue reading...
by Adeshola Ore (now), Stephanie Convery and Josh Tay on (#70HMR)
This blog is now closed.An Australian has won an award at this year's Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship.Caroline Velik was named Speciality Dish winner for her porridge jaffles - a yoghurt flatbread filled with rum bananas, made with her mother's recipe, which included Bundaberg banana toffee rum liqueur, bananas, oatmeal and wattle seeds, tossed in Davidson plum sugar. Continue reading...
About 350,000 flee homes as heavy rain and winds sweep region, while Hurricane Priscilla forms near MexicoTyphoon Matmo made landfall on the southern coast of China on Sunday afternoon, shortly after sweeping across the island province of Hainan. The powerful storm forced the evacuation of about 350,000 people, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, especially between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. Ferry services were suspended and flights cancelled at Haikou Meilan airport.Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, had sustained wind speeds of 94mph (151km/h) and dumped more than 50mm of rainfall in six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. The city of Nanning also had high rainfall totals. Continue reading...
Hundreds of students with promised places had been left in limbo after university exceeded its visa allocationsHundreds of international students will be able to take up their promised places after negotiations between the Home Office and University College London ended with the government granting extra visas.Hundreds of students, many from China, had been left in limbo after UCL underestimated the demand for places this year and exceeded its allocation of confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) electronic documents allowed by the Home Office. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Badenoch has tried to bring a rallying spirit back at conservative conference - but their prospects look far from funGood morning. Last week, Kemi Badenoch made a bold promise to those attending Tory conference: We can put the party in Conservative party." Perhaps some veterans of Downing Street during the pandemic felt a thrilling pang of nostalgia. But as the conference got under way in Manchester yesterday, there weren't a lot of champagne flutes being clinked.Badenoch herself made the first of two appearances of the week, saying that she would take Britain out of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), and telling members that increasing deportations might require the party to go even further: If there are other treaties and laws we need to revise or revisit, then we will do so." But as that firmly rightwing policy implies, she is much too worried about the existential threat posed by Reform to be having any fun. And from here, the path back to a competitive position in the polls appears so treacherous as to be almost impassable.Israel-Gaza war | Negotiators arrived in Cairo before talks on Monday expected to focus on the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and a broader end to the war, as Israel continued strikes on the Palestinian territory, killing 63 people in 24 hours.Protest | Civil liberty groups have expressed concerns at plans outlined by the home secretary to hand police greater powers to restrict protests as organisers of mass demonstrations against the banning of Palestine Action pledged a major escalation" of their campaign.China | Chinese officials threatened retaliation should the UK government target parts of its security apparatus under foreign influence rules soon after the Guardian reported it was under consideration.Syria | The battle-ravaged country is holding its first parliamentary elections since the fall of its longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, in a tentative step towards democratic polls that have been criticised as biased in favour of interim leaders.Utilities | Millions of households in England face the prospect of even bigger water bill increases than originally expected, as the competition regulator prepares to give a preliminary verdict on industry spending plans as soon as this week.The most likely outcome - just about - remains that things carry on as now, with the Tories badly wounded but not quite dead, and splitting the vote on the right ... But the possibility that the Conservatives will disintegrate has increased substantially since January because the Tories are so far behind Reform, and have seen their institutional structures eroded to the point where they could be toppled very quickly." Continue reading...
CMA poised to give verdict after appeal by five firms for permission to increase bills higher than allowed by OfwatMillions of households in England face the prospect of even bigger water bill increases than originally expected, as the competition regulator prepares to give a preliminary verdict on industry spending plans as soon as this week.Five water companies appealed to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ask for permission to raise bills higher than allowed previously by the industry regulator, Ofwat. Continue reading...
Families of some aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla say they are being held without access to clean water or legal representationActivists from New Zealand detained in Israel after they were removed from vessels carrying aid to Gaza are being held in poor conditions without access to water and legal representation, their families have said, as dozens more passengers from the Global Sumud Flotilla were set to be deported.Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour and Samuel Leason were among 437 activists, parliamentarians and lawyers travelling aboard the flotilla, a coalition of more than 40 vessels carrying humanitarian aid whose goal was to breach Israel's 16-year maritime blockade of Gaza. Continue reading...
Ipsa's Karen Walker says that even after recent big change' to system there is still room for potential improvementThe MPs' pay watchdog is planning to give the public more input into how politicians are funded as it considers changes to the system, its new chief executive has said.Karen Walker, who took over as head of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority last month, said Ipsa had recently brought in a big change" in the way politicians were allowed to claim funding for running their offices, employing staff, living accommodation, travel and other costs. Continue reading...
Rivals say president's latest cabinet represents unwelcome continuity and hard-left party vows to file no-confidence motion amid fraught budget talksFrench president Emmanuel Macron has named a new government as he struggles to pull the country out of a political crisis, while rivals threatened to topple the lineup quickly if it failed to break with Macron's past policies.The new cabinet was unveiled nearly a month after the appointment of prime minister Sebastien Lecornu, who sought to obtain cross-party support in a deeply divided parliament. Continue reading...
Comedian admits to mixed feelings but says event is a positive thing' despite human rights abuses in Saudi ArabiaLouis CK has defended his decision to perform at the Riyadh comedy festival in Saudi Arabia after fellow comedians criticised the big names taking part as whitewashing a regime guilty of human rights abuses.Speaking on Real Time With Bill Maher, CK, who is co-headlining the festival with the British comedian Jimmy Carr on Monday night local time, said other comedians had been really surprised" by the response from audiences in Riyadh so far. Continue reading...
Excavators used to remove rubble while 14 people reportedly still unaccounted for and police allege building work was being carried out without a permitIndonesian rescuers searching for missing students after a prayer hall at an Islamic boarding school collapsed last week recovered the bodies of dozens of students over the weekend, bringing the confirmed death toll to 54.Using heavy excavators equipped with jackhammers, circular saws and sometimes their bare hands, rescue teams removed tons of rubble in an attempt to find the 14 students reportedly still missing. Rescuers found 35 bodies over the weekend alone, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#70HPX)
Poll of 2,000 people appears to underline experts' concerns of growing epidemic' of addiction to alcohol or drugsOne in four people in the UK fear that a partner, relative or friend drinks too much, while one in six worry that a loved one is taking too many drugs.The findings, from a representative survey of 2,000 adults, appear to underline what some experts say is a growing epidemic" of addiction to alcohol or drugs such as cocaine and cannabis.10% worry that they drink too much and 5% that they use drugs too often.26% worry that a partner, family member or friend drinks too much.16% are concerned about a loved one's use of illegal drugs.Families that earn more than 50,000 a year are three times more likely to contain someone with an addiction problem. Continue reading...
Footballer turned developer questions spate of flag raisings and says we're all being turned on each other'Gary Neville has revealed he removed a union flag from one of his Manchester development sites because it was being used in a negative fashion", as he urged his followers to question what it means to be patriotic.In a video posted on Friday, the day after a deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue, the former footballer turned property developer said he believed that we're all being turned on each other", attributing much of the blame for the divide to angry, middle-aged white men ... who know exactly what they're doing". Continue reading...
Exclusive: Chinese officials warned that targeting its security apparatus would negatively affect relationsChina threatened to retaliate against the UK government if ministers targeted parts of its security apparatus under foreign influence rules, the Guardian can disclose.Chinese officials warned the Foreign Office that the move would have negative consequences for relations soon after the Guardian reported it was under consideration, according to two government sources with knowledge of the discussions. Continue reading...
After more than a decade of civil war, committee members will choose transitional parliamentSyria is holding its first parliamentary elections since the fall of its longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, in a tentative step towards democratic polls that have been criticised as biased in favour of the country's interim leaders.As the battle-ravaged country moves through its post-Assad political transition after more than a decade of civil war, members of local committees are beginning the significant milestone of selecting a transitional parliament. Continue reading...
Far-right activist described as thug who represents worst of Britain' after invitation to Israel sparks outragePlans by an Israeli minister to host the British far-right activist Tommy Robinson have been condemned by Jewish bodies in the UK and others.The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council described Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as a thug" who represented the very worst of Britain". Continue reading...
The US president's recent behavior is strange to many, from reposting a false AI video of himself to confusing comments during press conferencesTo many observers, both in the US and abroad, Donald Trump has been behaving strangely recently. Especially online.As a government shutdown loomed in the US last week, the president posted an AI video which depicted Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black House minority leader, wearing a sombrero and exaggerated moustache, with mariachi music playing in the background. Continue reading...
by Charlotte Higgins in Lviv and Luke Harding in Kyiv on (#70HCF)
City, which sits just 70km from Polish border, suffers one of its most serious attacks since the start of the warEarly on Sunday, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, normally considered one of the safest in the country, suffered one of its most sustained and serious attacks since the start of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion.For five hours, Russian Shahed drones and missiles targeted the city, which is about 70km from the Polish border. Large explosions were audible from the centre, a Unesco world heritage site. Continue reading...
Billionaire suing Gambling Commission for up to 1.3bn over licence award, with payout potentially funded by the taxpayerThe media billionaire Richard Desmond will begin a bitter courtroom battle with the Gambling Commission this week that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds in a row over the licence to run the National Lottery.Northern & Shell and The New Lottery Company (TNLC), owned by Desmond, are suing the gambling regulator for up to 1.3bn, alleging manifest errors" in the labyrinthine competition process for Britain's largest public sector contract, the lottery licence. Continue reading...
Husamettin Dogan, 44, was sentenced to nine years in prison at trial of 51 men last year where all were found guiltyGisele Pelicot, who survived almost a decade of rape involving dozens of men after she was drugged by her ex-husband, will attend court in France again on Monday after one of the men convicted of raping her faces a second trial after appealing against his verdict.Pelicot became a feminist hero after she decided to waive her right to anonymity in the 2024 trial of her former husband and 50 other men last year. Continue reading...
Shaker, wanted over his connection to deadly shootout between militants and army, had been hiding out in Palestinian refugee campA Lebanese pop star turned wanted Islamist militant handed himself over to the country's military intelligence service 12 years after going on the run.Fadel Shaker had been on the run since the bloody street clashes between Sunni Muslim militants and the Lebanese army in June 2013 in the coastal city of Sidon. He was tried in absentia and sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2020 for providing support to a terrorist group". Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#70GXP)
Exclusive: poll asked voters to rank parties on how favourably they felt about them, with strong support in capital and among younger votersThe Greens are viewed more favourably than any other party in London and among younger voters, polling produced for the party has shown, with its leader, Zack Polanski, saying this showed they were on track" to supplant Labour.The YouGov poll, carried out to coincide with the Greens' ongoing annual conference in Bournemouth, asked voters in England to rank the five main parties in order of how favourably they felt about them, rather than the usual metric of which they planned to vote for. Continue reading...
Margaret Thatcher admirer beat her more moderate rival to become leader of Liberal Democratic partyJapan is poised to get its first female prime minister after Sanae Takaichi was elected as leader of the governing Liberal Democratic party (LDP) - a victory that should lead to her being installed as the country's new leader in the middle of the month.Takaichi, a rightwing politician who has voiced admiration for Margaret Thatcher in her quest to build a strong and prosperous" Japan on the international stage, beat her moderate rival, Shinjiro Koizumi, in a runoff election at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Saturday. Continue reading...
The car magnate, who is restoring the Jewish author's former villa, has been given permission to dig out a 500-metre road leading to a garage, causing consternation in the cityFor three years the peace and quiet of Doris Ruggeberg's cosy flat on the Kapuzinerberg, a picturesque wooded hill in Salzburg, has been interrupted by the noise from the nextdoor neighbour's building site.Wolfgang Porsche, a German-Austrian automotive magnate, bought the 17th-century villa at No 5 as a second home in 2019 for about 9m (7.8m). Ever since, he has been busily renovating the property before he and his partner, Gabriele Prinzessin zu Leiningen, move in this winter. Continue reading...
Palestinian militant group accepts part of US president's plan but seeks further negotiations on many termsDonald Trump ordered Israel to immediately" stop bombing Gaza as he welcomed Hamas's partial acceptance of his ultimatum to end the nearly two-year war.Hamas has agreed to release all hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, as well as surrender governing power in the Gaza Strip, in accordance with Trump's plan. Continue reading...
by Donna Ferguson,(now), Sharon Marris, Tom Ambrose, on (#70G3Z)
Police arrest three more people, bringing the total to six, Justice secretary faces calls of shame on you' as crowd gathers to remember victims of terror attack
Pentagon chief says strike - fourth by US military in recent weeks - targeted boat with substantial amounts' of drugsThe United States carried out a strike against an alleged drug-trafficking boat on Friday that killed four people, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said, a day after the Trump administration told Congress it was entering a new non-international armed conflict" with cartels.The strike, which Hegseth said he directed on Donald Trump's orders, appears to be at least the fourth in recent weeks. Hegseth gave few details about the boat or the evidence that it was carrying narcotics, other than saying the US had confirmed it was carrying drugs. Continue reading...
Writing before a planned protest against Palestine Action ban, PM says activists should recognise a time of mourningThe prime minister has called for protesters to respect the grief of British Jews this week" after the Manchester synagogue attack.Ahead of a planned demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action this Saturday, Keir Starmer wrote in the Jewish Chronicle that activists should recognise this is a time of mourning. Continue reading...
by Andrew Roth Global affairs correspondent on (#70GCW)
President and his defence chief took aim at the fat generals', but some doubted there was much substance to the swagger on showThis week marked an inflection point in Donald Trump's relentless politicisation of the US armed forces, as he delivered a partisan - if scattershot - campaign speech to the very room of people he is not supposed to: the commanders of the most powerful military in the world.For those declaring a five-alarm authoritarian fire in the US, there was plenty of smoke: the anti-woke rhetoric that has become a commonplace of the political right, the threats to summarily dismiss the generals who disagree with him, the transparent pleasure at deploying the military to perform police actions in major US cities. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian