The Guardian

A network of former intelligence and security officers says democratic decline is accelerating under Trump’s ruleThe United States is “on a trajectory” toward authoritarian rule, according to a stark new intelligence-style assessment by former US intelligence and national security officials, who warn that democratic backsliding is accelerating under the Trump administration – and may soon become entrenched without organized resistance.The report, titled Accelerating Authoritarian Dynamics: Assessment of Democratic Decline, was released on Thursday by the Steady State, a network of more than 340 former officers of the CIA, NSA, state department, and other national-security agencies. Continue reading... Source link :

That the government chose a junior minister to answer an urgent question on the matter demonstrated their confidenceIt’s all as clear as mud. If Keir Starmer thought that releasing the three witness statements of the deputy national security adviser (DNSA), Matthew Collins, late on Wednesday night was going to make the China spy case row go away, then he was in for a big disappointment.There was no way MPs were going to let a story like this out of their clutches. This was their moment to take centre stage. When they can bathe in their own importance. When they can

Labour MP and chair of security committee Matt Western says there are ‘a lot of questions still to be asked’UK politics live – latest updatesQuestions for CPS after No 10 publishes key witness statements in China spy rowMPs will hold an inquiry into the collapse of a trial of two men accused of spying for China, after No 10 published key evidence in an attempt to draw a line under the row.Matt Western, a Labour MP and chair of the joint committee on the national security strategy, told the House of Commons there are “a lot of questions yet to

Government asked for a statement ‘on the three witness statements in relation to alleged breach of Official Secrets Act on behalf of China’The Conservative MP Nick Timothy has posted a thread on social media with some of the questions he claims are raised by the three China witness statements. His first one is::1. Why did Matt Collins insert positive language about the relationship with China in the Labour government’s evidence, but not the Tory evidence?The last two directors have had no significant prosecution background at all before their appointment. Yet the core of CPS work is decision-making on which cases

Exclusive: external consultancy report found discrimination ‘baked into HR systems’ at London forceA review of anti-Black racism within the Metropolitan police has been “buried” by the force, despite finding discrimination “baked into its HR systems”, the Guardian can reveal.The internal review, commissioned by the Met from the consultancy HR Rewired, concluded that bias, racial stereotyping and inequity were woven through the force’s recruitment, promotion and grievance processes, affecting Black staff specifically. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/16/review-anti-black-racism-metropolitan-police-force-london Author : Nadine White Publish date : 2025-10-16 07:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

GP services will end at the Collingwood, Fitzroy, and Kensington sites in DecemberFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThousands of Victorians with complex health needs who are also facing homelessness, trauma and family violence will be forced to find a new GP after the sudden announcement that services at three cohealth clinics will close.Cohealth provides a range of integrated health and social support services across Melbourne, often at no cost. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/16/gp-cohealth-clinics-close-victoria-healthcare Author : Melissa Davey Medical editor Publish date : 2025-10-16 04:07:00 Copyright

Follow live as we announce the winner of the 2025 Australian bird of the yearMore Australian bird of the year contentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHeads up: the livestream ceremony is just a few minutes away from launch! You’ll be able to watch it here on the Guardian blog, as well as on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Links to come very shortly …Top 10 spotlight: the bush stone-curlewDopey, anxious and adorable. They never seem to be in a sensible location, or quite sure of how they got there. And they scream like banshees. Continue reading...

NTSB report finds OceanGate company did not adequately test submersible before 2023 voyage to wreck of TitanicThe deadly implosion of a submersible traveling to the wreck of the Titanic was the result of faulty engineering, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Wednesday.The NTSB’s final report on the voyage that killed five people in June 2023, said that OceanGate, the private company that owned the Titan, did not adequately test its experimental submersible before the trip. The Washington-state based firm, which suspended operations after the catastrophic implosion, was unaware of the submersible’s true durability, the report said. Continue reading...

Defence department confirms incident but did not give further details. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastUS has ‘a lot of enthusiasm’ for Aukus deal, defence industry minister saysPat Conroy, the minister for defence industry, is in the US visiting Washington DC, where he is meeting officials from the Trump administration.There’s a lot of enthusiasm for Aukus in the United States, particularly at a congressional level. And every congressional leader I’ve met with has been very strong in support for Aukus and as a co-equal branch of the government, I think that’s very

California governor blocks 77-year-old’s parole for second time, saying she ‘poses an unreasonable danger to society’Gavin Newsom this week again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent more than half a century in prison for her role in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by Charles Manson and perpetrated by his followers.Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor on Monday reversed the decisionand said she “currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time’”. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/15/charles-manson-follower-parole-patricia-krenwinkel-gavin-newsom Author : Dani Anguiano Publish date :

Cancellations represent escalating government-wide campaign to suppress criticism of rightwing influencerCivil liberties advocates are warning that the Trump administration’s decision to strip visas from at least six foreign nationals over social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s killing represents yet another example of dangerous government crackdowns on protected speech.On Tuesday, the state department announced it was systematically identifying visa holders who “celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk”, declaring in a social media statement that “the United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans”. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/15/us-visas-charlie-kirk-reaction Author : Joseph Gedeon in Washington

Fast-fashion retailer recorded 20% growth in sales and fees to $37bn but big hit is expected from US changes to import tax rulesBusiness live – latest updatesShein has reported a 20% rise in global revenues to $37bn (£27.7bn) but profits have fallen as the fast-fashion retailer faced increased costs, even before it felt the impact of recent changes to US tax laws.The Singaporean parent company of the rapidly growing retailer said pre-tax profits had fallen by 13% to $1.5bn last year from $1.3bn in 2023 after an increase in selling and marketing costs, according to new accounts. Continue reading... Source

GOP seeking to have section 2, designed to prevent discrimination in voting, declared unconstitutional as battles around redistricting take place across nationA new video from Robert De Niro implores people in the US “to stand up and be counted” in coming protests against Donald Trump’s second presidency that are being planned across the country for Saturday.In the clip, the two-time Oscar winner characterizes Trump as an aspiring tyrant who aims to end American democracy, which – among other major historical events – has survived the first and second world wars. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/oct/15/donald-trump-federal-government-shutdown-redistricting-voting-rights-act-kash-patel-us-politics-live-news-updates Author : Tom Ambrose

Israel previously said the flow of aid would be cut by half and Rafah crossing would not open as planned due to delay in returning bodies of hostagesIsrael limits aid into Gaza in dispute over hostages’ remainsAssociated Press (AP) have more detail on Dr Hossam Abu Safiya mentioned in the previous post (see 8.40am BST).AP reports that it is not known if Abu Safiya, 52, might still be released. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests by the news agency for comment. His family said on social media there were “no confirmed details about the date of his release,”

British social media star sent back by border force after apparently arriving on tourist paperwork but with several appearances scheduledBritish social media personality “Big John” Fisher has cut short a tour and appearances in Australia after saying he was detained by immigration officers for arriving on the wrong visa.Fisher, who is famous for his love of Chinese takeaway and reviews of fast food and has almost 700,000 followers on Instagram, said he was held for four hours by Australian Border Force officers after arriving in Perth on Tuesday. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/15/big-john-fisher-australia-visa-detained-deported Author : Daisy Dumas Publish date

Chinese president is behind patriarchal turn in politics with activists silenced for ‘promoting gender antagonism’Addressing dignitaries gathered in Beijing on Monday, Xi Jinping praised the “historic achievements” of women’s rights in China. In the past 30 years, the Chinese president said, maternal mortality rates had dropped by nearly 80%, and women were now participating in the project of national governance with “unprecedented confidence and vigour”.Xi was speaking at the global women’s summit, an event on Monday and Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of the historic UN’s world conference on women, which took place in Beijing. It was there in

Exclusive: New bill seeks to ban rent processing fees, require landlords to provide proof for bond claims and establish a portable bond schemeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLandlords and real estate agents will have to provide renters with proof to back up a bond claim and will be banned from charging fees to process rent, under long-awaited legislation to be introduced to Victorian parliament.The premier, Jacinta Allan, and minister for consumer affairs, Nick Staikos, on Wednesday announced the introduction of Labor’s latest rental reforms to parliament, which

Teresa O’Sullivan says surging prison population showed ‘underscores the scale of the issue’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore on the opposition’s proposed amendments to NSW housing reformsUnder the opposition’s proposed amendments, the Housing Delivery Authority – a body that decides what major projects should be deemed state significant and decided by the planning department – will be subject to a full statutory review. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/oct/15/australia-news-live-liberals-infighting-james-paterson-sussan-ley-andrew-hastie-superannuation-jim-chalmers-ntwnfb Author : Nick Visser Publish date : 2025-10-14 22:02:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Singer known for tracks such as Brown Sugar and Untitled (How Does It Feel) died at home from pancreatic cancerD’Angelo – a life in picturesD’Angelo radically redrew the boundaries of soul musicD’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B singer who helped pioneer the sound of neo-soul, has died. He was 51.The singer, born Michael Eugene Archer, died on Tuesday morning at his home in New York after privately suffering from pancreatic cancer, his family confirmed to Variety. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/oct/14/dangelo-dead Author : Adrian Horton Publish date : 2025-10-14 19:33:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Hamas tells mediators it plans to transfer bodies of four deceased hostages at 10pm local timeDespite the ceasefire agreement, a medical source told Palestinian news agency Wafa today that four people were killed when Israeli drones fired at residents inspecting their homes in Gaza’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood. We have not yet been able to independently verify this information.Israel’s military said it opened fire on people who it says approached Israeli forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/oct/14/gaza-ceasefire-israel-hamas-palestine-hostages-detainees-truce-live-news-updates Author : Matthew Pearce (now); Tom Ambrose, Yohannes Lowe and Adam Fulton (earlier) Publish date : 2025-10-14

Mike Johnson speaks on federal government shutdown as it enters 14th day with little end in sightChina has hit back at accusations from the US that it is trying to hurt the world economy, as the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies appeared to re-escalate, amped up by aggressive rhetoric on both sides.China’s commerce ministry said on Tuesday that the US was “threatening to intimidate” with the prospect of new tariffs on Chinese exports, “which is not the right way to get along with China”. Its spokesperson said that China would “fight to the end” in trade talks.

PM due to give statement on Middle East and India trip but opposition MPs likely to try to ask about claims of government interference in China case Europe’s most senior human rights official has called on Shabana Mahmood to review UK protest laws after mass arrests over the ban on Palestine Action, Rajeev Syal reports.The Commons authorities have confirmed that there will be two statements in the chamber after 12.30pm: first, Keir Starmer on the Middle East peace summit, and then Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary, on the Northern Ireland Troubles bill being published today. Continue reading... Source link

Ukrainian leader expresses hope for progress amid Trump’s Gaza deal, saying ‘it brings more hope for peace in other regions’Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday it had opened a criminal case against exiled Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, accusing him of creating a “terrorist organisation” and of plotting to violently seize power.According to Reutes, the FSB said it was investigating more than 20 other people as part of the same case, including prominent dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, ex-prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov and leading economists Sergei Aleksashenko and Sergei Guriev. Continue reading... Source link :

UK and French organisations file legal challenge against July agreement to swap asylum seekersFifteen French and UK human rights organisations are calling for the suspension of the controversial “one in, one out” treaty in a legal challenge that has been launched in France.The deal, signed by the UK and France in July, involves one asylum seeker who arrives in the UK from France in a small boat being sent back there in exchange for another selected in France to come to the UK. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/14/human-rights-groups-call-for-france-to-suspend-one-in-one-out-treaty-with-uk Author : Diane Taylor Publish date : 2025-10-14 07:00:00 Copyright for

Homeowners who took advantage of government programmes left with cladding likely to cause dampAlmost all the external insulation fitted under the previous government’s energy efficiency scheme was installed so poorly it will have to be repaired or replaced, an investigation has found.Thousands of homeowners who took advantage of the home insulation schemes have been left with incompetently fitted cladding that in some cases is likely to cause damp and mould. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/14/external-insulation-previous-government-scheme-repair-replacing-report-finds Author : Damien Gayle Publish date : 2025-10-14 04:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.