- Live Updates: Houthis launch new attack on Saudi capital as Trump mulls U.S. role in Mideast war's new front CBS News
- Oil price hikes, Saudi-Houthi strikes carry on amid Trump's midterm pause on Iran war Fox News
- Saudi Airlines Rush to Save Scores of Planes From a War Zone WSJ
- As Houthis strike Riyadh, Saudi Arabia confronts the costs of U.S. war on Iran The Washington Post
- Pilgrims caught up in Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia Reuters
Pakistan school roof collapse kills at least 28 children and one teacher – CNN
- Pakistan school roof collapse kills at least 28 children and one teacher CNN
- Pakistan school roof collapse kills 28; more deaths feared Reuters
- Pakistan school roof collapses in Peshawar, killing almost 30 young students and a teacher CBS News
- At least 18 pupils and one teacher killed after school roof collapses in Pakistan BBC
- At Least 20 Children Dead After School Roof Collapses in Pakistan The New York Times
Why Does Saudi Arabia Struggle to Stop Houthi Attacks? – The New York Times
- Why Does Saudi Arabia Struggle to Stop Houthi Attacks? The New York Times
- Saudi Arabia Is Running Out of Options The Atlantic
- The escalation in Yemen is a turning point Al Jazeera
- Iran-Backed Militants Are Tightening the Screws on Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince WSJ
- Yemen’s Houthis are bringing their war to Saudi Arabia – and reframing the narrative of being an Iranian proxy The Conversation
Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian refineries as Zelenskiy says ‘we’re done’ – Reuters
- Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian refineries as Zelenskiy says 'we're done' Reuters
- Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, Zelenskyy says Financial Times
- Ukraine to resume strikes on Russia’s oil refineries, Zelensky tells FT CNN
- Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Russian Refinery Strikes, Defying Trump The New York Times
- Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, shattering hopes of an 'energy ceasefire' CNBC
Hochul, Blakeman throwdown over immigration, ICE in NY debate ahead of Midterm Elections – Fox News
Thursday briefing: Thanks to an erratic Trump, peace in Ukraine is still far away
In today’s newsletter: As Russia resists a ceasefire and Trump’s shifting priorities unsettle allies, an end to the conflict isn’t getting any closer
Good morning. In his usual asinine unconventional approach to international relations, Donald Trump announced on Sunday (via Truth Social, how else) an “ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine”, apparently without checking with either side. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said any such deal was “news to me,” nonetheless declared he was “ready and we will accept it”. Vladimir Putin responded by blowing up some Ukrainian power plants.
This has been the tenor of much diplomacy during Trump’s tenure: false starts, U-turns, incoherent positions (and some playful flirting with Vlad). Meanwhile fighting continues, and America’s allies attempt to manage the fallout. Andy Burnham hosted Zelenskyy at Downing Street yesterday, stating the UK is doubling down on its support for Ukraine, and pointedly calling on others to “follow suit”.
UK | Sally Rooney has said she is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because of her support for the banned organisation Palestine Action.
Gaza | Israel is refusing to allow a key military outpost project for Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to proceed in Gaza, the Guardian has learned.
EU | Britain will benefit from much closer trading relations with the EU even if that means giving up its ability to negotiate free trade agreements, the Scotland secretary has said.
Ukraine | Ukraine’s military has suddenly had its access to Starlink satellite internet terminals restricted as the Trump administration has increased pressure on Ukraine to immediately halt long-range strikes on Russia’s oil industry.
Vaccine | Guinea-Bissau has not approved the controversial hepatitis B study in newborns that would be funded by the US government and private partners, the African country’s minister of health said.
Continue reading...‘Manosphere’ podcasts and moon-landing conspiracy theories to remain online under new laws, Wells says
Communications minister rebuts claims that Labor’s digital duty of care laws would lead to government control of speech
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Australians could still “listen to manosphere podcasts” or “say the moon landing was fake” under proposed new online safety laws, Anika Wells has stressed as she rubbished claims they would lead to government censorship
The communications minister also said she was considering updates to the digital duty of care laws to allow individual Australians to directly sue big tech companies flouting the new rules. This has been a key demand from the Greens for their support for the laws, while the Coalition accuses Labor of plans to “secretly control Australian speech”.
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Continue reading...Parents of Chloe Moffat want Treasury staff held to account over her death
Exclusive: David and Anne Moffat to meet permanent secretary after coroner found Treasury ‘materially contributed’ to employee taking her own life
The parents of a woman who killed herself after facing disciplinary proceedings at the Treasury will call for anyone found to have contributed to their daughter’s death to be held to account.
A coroner found in August that the Treasury had “materially contributed” to Chloe Moffat’s death after the 26-year-old personal assistant was called into a surprise disciplinary meeting about anonymous complaints alleging she had disclosed sensitive information at work, which she denied.
Continue reading...Victoria to become first state to make abortions free as Coalition matches Labor election promise
Exclusive: Out-of-pocket costs for abortion care to be covered regardless of who wins November election as Jess Wilson says Liberals and Nationals ‘will not allow Labor to play politics on this issue’
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Victoria will become the first state in Australia to make access to abortion care free, no matter who wins the November election, with the Coalition matching Labor’s promise just hours after it was announced as it attempts to neutralise the issue.
The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, on Thursday afternoon told Guardian Australia a Liberal National Coalition government would match Labor’s commitment to cover out-of-pocket costs for abortion care up to 16 weeks’ gestation. This would include GP and specialist consultations, scans, tests or medication, which can quickly add up to more than $1,000.
Continue reading...Greens senator Jordon Steele-John takes leave amid investigation into complaints
Steele-John said he rejected the claims and had referred them to the Western Australian Greens for a ‘fair, independent process’
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Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has taken leave from the party room after complaints were made, triggering an independent review.
The Nine newspapers reported on Thursday afternoon that seven party members demanded an investigation into allegations he made inappropriate comments to a number of women between 2017 and 2025.
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Continue reading...Verse from the waste land: Rotterdam’s poetic bin lorries granted cultural status
Lyrical lines printed on side of city’s fleet of rubbish trucks now recognised as one of Netherlands’ proud traditions
It is best known for its rich migration history and striking modern architecture. But now the Dutch city of Rotterdam is seeking recognition for a rather different characteristic: its tradition of printing poetry on bin trucks.
Since a poetry festival first came up with the idea in 1988, lines of verse have been printed on all of the city’s waste vehicles. The practice was this week elevated to the status of intangible cultural heritage, with formal recognition from a Dutch body that guards the nation’s traditions.
Continue reading...Iranian attacks sink two ships in Strait of Hormuz – The Washington Post
- Iranian attacks sink two ships in Strait of Hormuz The Washington Post
- Two ships sink near Hormuz after being hit by projectiles amid surge in attacks Reuters
- Attacks on Tankers in Mideast Surge, but Oil Exports Remain Steady The New York Times
- Two cargo ships sunk in Strait of Hormuz as Iran ramps up attacks in run-up to midterms CNN
- Container ship sinks in Strait of Hormuz as Iran steps up attacks CNBC
North Korea and China open new bridge after 12-year delay – BBC
- North Korea and China open new bridge after 12-year delay BBC
- New North Korea-China bridge finally opens. But will it help Pyongyang evade sanctions? CNN
- China, North Korea open long-delayed border bridge to boost trade Reuters
- New bridge linking China and North Korea will open more than a decade late ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- New bridge linking China, DPRK to facilitate trade, people-to-people exchanges: spokesperson CGTN
Brazil cuts work week to 40 hours in win for Lula ahead of runoff
Congress approves constitutional amendment that bans six-day workweeks, which could effect up to 30 million
Brazil’s congress has approved a constitutional amendment to shorten the working week to a maximum of 40 hours, a move that could affect 30 million workers and that will hand a political victory to the leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the presidential runoff in under two weeks.
In an attempt to overturn the first-round lead secured by his opponent, far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula has strongly championed the amendment, which will give some workers an extra day off each week.
Continue reading...‘I’m almost in tears’: Colombia quits Hague Group as Jerusalem embassy opens – Ynetnews
- ‘I'm almost in tears’: Colombia quits Hague Group as Jerusalem embassy opens Ynetnews
- Colombia opens embassy in Jerusalem, restores free trade deal with Israel Reuters
- Colombia inaugurates embassy to Israel in Jerusalem Al Jazeera
- Colombia becomes 10th country to open embassy in Jerusalem The Jerusalem Post
- Colombia opens embassy in West Jerusalem as new president embraces Israel Middle East Eye
Global conservation area coverage substantially exceeds current estimates – Nature
- Global conservation area coverage substantially exceeds current estimates Nature
- CBD COP17: What does it really mean to protect 30% of the planet? Greenpeace
- Protected areas are not for mining: Interview with WWF’s Nadège Nzoyem news - Mongabay
- Nearly 27% of Earth's land is managed for conservation, but critical ecosystems remain vulnerable Florida International University
- Earth May Already Be Far Closer to the 30x30 Conservation Goal Than We Bioengineer.org
Russia detains Japanese journalist, alleging espionage – The Washington Post
- Russia detains Japanese journalist, alleging espionage The Washington Post
- Japan Protests Russia’s Detention of Journalist Accused of Spying The New York Times
- Russia Detains Japanese Journalist on Espionage Charges WSJ
- Tokyo protests Russia’s arrest of Japanese journalist on suspicion of spying AP News
- Russia detains Japanese journalist on suspicion of spying CNN
Pope Leo’s recovery from lung cancer surgery ‘progressing as planned’
Pontiff has begun walking in his hospital room and is eating normally after operation to remove growth, doctors say
Pope Leo’s recovery from a lung cancer operation is progressing as planned, his doctors have said, as the pontiff received good wishes from around the world, including from Britain’s King Charles.
Leo, who had a cancerous mass removed from his right lung late on Tuesday, began walking in his hospital room after respiratory therapy on Wednesday. He was eating normally, his doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritoria said in a statement issued by the Vatican.
Continue reading...Lawyers for man shot by ICE in New York City say agent did not identify himself
Account by Oscar Belgal differs sharply from that of DHS agents, who fired into vehicle with young boy in back seat
Lawyers for a man wounded by an immigration officer while driving with his young son in New York City said in a court filing Wednesday that the agent who shot him never identified himself before he ran up to the car, smashed one of its windows, then fired several shots into the vehicle.
The account by lawyers for Oscar Belgal contrasted sharply with the version of events outlined by Department of Homeland Security officials. They have said officers opened fire only after Belgal smashed his car into two government vehicles and “accelerated toward other officers”.
Continue reading...Ilhan Omar’s phone seized and relatives subpoenaed in criminal inquiry, source says
Federal authorities issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas in inquiry into potential immigration fraud
Federal authorities investigating the Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar seized the Democratic lawmaker’s phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the inquiry.
The subpoenas were issued for a grand jury collecting evidence in Minnesota as federal authorities investigate potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation. The investigation led to federal agents searching Omar’s Washington DC home on Monday just weeks before the November midterms, in which Omar is seeking re-election.
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