The Guardian

Moscow used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles in attacks on electricity substations and bridge over the Dnipro Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of trying to “plunge Kyiv and the entire country into a blackout”, following a major attack overnight on energy infrastructure in the capital and a bridge over the Dnipro River. Ukraine’s president said Moscow’s preparations for peace talks next …

Department had claimed that being kidnapped for ransom was not exploitation of trafficking victims in case of Syrian man abducted in Libya The court of appeal has rejected claims by the Home Office that being kidnapped for ransom is not exploitation of trafficking victims. The ruling means that many people who have been kidnapped for ransom, whom officials have previously excluded from being vict…

Architect of Trump’s far-right immigration agenda is now most powerful unelected figure in government – it suggests White House is moving to a war footing Donald Trump just gave the middle finger to millions of American voters. Any other president who suffered the kind of drubbing at the polls that Trump did this week might have felt at least a sliver of humility – and perhaps even an obligation …

Armed police attended the scene, which led to two nearby schools going into lockdown on Friday Two teenagers have been arrested after a 17-year-old was injured in a suspected sword attack near a Catholic school in Gloucester. Officers were called to Chalford Road, near St Peter’s high school, in Tuffley, shortly after 8.50am on Friday. It was reported that two men – one in possession of a sword –…

Dinch, an allegedly ‘safe’ alternative, used in the EU and US also found to cause fetal development complications Exposure to a new generation of allegedly “safe” plasticizers is linked to lower birth weight and fetal development complications, which could cause serious health problems later in life, a new peer-reviewed study found. As the health risks in exposure to common phthalate plasticizers…

Sunshine state emerged as the lone flag bearer of the Maga agenda, but even there, the GOP finds itself on the defense After the dust settled on Tuesday night’s near-annihilation of the Republican party nationwide, a single red flag fluttered defiantly in Florida, now a last bastion of the Maga movement that has dominated politics in the US for a decade. Voters in the Sunshine state bucked the na…

There’s not much they can do over the next couple of years to alleviate angry voters’ stress over prices It was the economy, again. Although Donald Trump largely ignored it, voters’ acute concerns over the rising cost of living fuelled a political upheaval for the ages that is likely to deliver the biggest swing toward Democrats since Watergate, granting them the largest House majority in nearly …

DataVita has revised plan for Chapelhall development to be wholly powered by 1GW of renewable energy A datacentre company that said it would power a massive AI development near Glasgow with renewable energy has admitted that the scheme will be entirely served by the National Grid. DataVita, a key plank of the UK’s AI strategy, had promised that the Lanarkshire project would draw 1GW – the equival…

Democrats and Republicans blast promotion of ‘xenophobe’ who led administration’s immigration crackdown in wake of US midterm elections Democratic lawmakers decried Stephen Miller as a “ hatemonger ”, a “ xenophobe ” and “ vile ” after Donald Trump appointed his most trusted adviser as White House chief of staff. On Friday afternoon, the US president abruptly announced via his Truth Social platfo…

Campaign group the3million lodges court papers after EU citizens told pre-settled status was an ‘error’ The Home Office is being sued for alleged breach of the Brexit withdrawal agreement after stripping almost 1,500 EU citizens of their full rights to live in the UK. Campaign group the3million lodged papers at the high court on Friday after several cases emerged of EU citizens who were granted p…

Researchers say popular performers covertly market OnlyFans content and tell followers about wealthy lifestyle TikTok is helping to promote and normalise the sex industry, allowing “sexfluencers” to post videos aimed at marketing pornographic content they have uploaded elsewhere on sites such as OnlyFans, a report indicates. After studying non-explicit content posted on TikTok over the course of …

Ian Winter KC told Rosamund Urwin of the Sunday Times, whose investigation led to Brand’s victims coming forward: ‘I hope you are pleased with yourself’ Russell Brand’s barrister has reported himself to his professional regulator after being accused of launching a tirade at a journalist shortly after his client had been found guilty of rape. Ian Winter KC “confronted” the Sunday Times journalist …

Trump still considering new assault on Iran nuclear sites – though threats less credible after Vance remarks Qatar, the lead mediator in the US-Iran conflict, is seeking to persuade Tehran to allow UN nuclear weapons inspectors to visit Iran’s bombed nuclear sites, including those housing the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran would not be required to make any commitment that th…

Charities say situation exposes ‘fatal flaw’ in Andy Burnham’s plan to end rough sleeping in England by Christmas In just four days James is facing the prospect of sleeping on the street. He was released from prison in August and given temporary probation accommodation in Somerset, but that is about to expire and he has nowhere to go. “It is scary,” the 37-year-old said. “I am not asking for spec…

Polls show no coalition is expected to secure a majority of seats, in one of the closest elections in recent history New Zealand heads for election cliffhanger with minor party cast as kingmaker In New Zealand’s bellwether seat, what are locals thinking as a knife-edge poll looms? Another update here with 8% of the vote counted . National on 31.2%, Labour 28.4%, the Greens 12.9%, Act 11.2%, NZ Fi…