Tuesday briefing: Can Andy Burnham beat Britain’s headphone dodgers?↗
In today’s newsletter: The prime minister’s campaign against noisy passengers has struck a chord with commuters. Whether anyone hears him remains to be seen. Good morning. Me again, back from the October school holiday (a week in glorious…
Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi seen in rare photos after receiving gift from King Charles↗
Critics said images of detained former leader were a stunt by the military to end country’s diplomatic isolation Myanmar has delivered presents from Britain’s King Charles to Aung San Suu Kyi , releasing rare photos of the imprisoned…
Royal Exchange boss unveils new plays two years after damaging censorship row↗
Selina Cartmell announces season including Stockport-set version of Phaedra myth by Simon Stephens A theatre boss has promised to channel the “pioneering spirit of Manchester” and be “brave and fearless” as she unveiled a new season of…
New Bradford railway station will ‘transform travel across the north’↗
Transport hub will offer through trains between Leeds and Manchester with ‘turn-up-and-go’ service A new railway station will be built in Bradford to “transform how people travel across the north”, the government has announced. The station…
Public support for founding principles of NHS is falling across UK population↗
Rise in economic hardship and changes in attitudes towards migration could explain drop in support, experts say Public support for the NHS’s founding principles – that it is free to use, available to everyone and tax-funded – has fallen…
Mother of alleged Alan Jones victim ‘absolutely trusted’ the radio host, court told↗
Witness breaks down in tears, tells court ‘I was scared’ after son declined to report alleged kissing and touching by broadcaster Listen to the podcast Alan Jones on Trial Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free weekly media newsletter here…
The Guardian — WorldInternationalPresented by Ian Sample, produced by Madeleine Finlay, sound design by Ross Burns, the executive producer was Ellie Bury20 Oct 2026 ‘These risks are real’: the threat of AI bioweapons – podcast↗
In his annual speech on threats to the nation, Sir Ken McCallum, the head of the UK’s intelligence service, MI5 , warned that AI had the potential to ‘change the stakes’ on existing and even new bioweapons. To find out why, and how, Ian…
The Guardian — WorldInternationalPresented by Nosheen Iqbal with Zoe Williams and Haroon Siddique; produced by Ruth Abrahams, Eleanor Biggs and Rudi Zyga20 Oct 2026 Why terrorism laws stopped Sally Rooney selling books in the UK – podcast↗
The bestselling author says her books will no longer be supplied to UK bookshops over fears of prosecution. Zoe Williams and Haroon Siddique report For now there might be a copy or two of Intermezzo left kicking around in your local…
Kumanjayi Little Baby: damning report finds ‘heartbreaking’ child protection failures before five-year-old’s death↗
Northern Territory government announced sweeping reforms of child protection sector in May, just days after the Warlpiri girl was found dead • Warning: This article contains images of and references to Indigenous Australians who have died…
Beau Lamarre-Condon had surgery after alleged double murder but before disposing of bodies, court told↗
Police officer had operation at St Vincent’s hospital two days after Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were shot dead in Paddington terrace in early 2024 Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Beau Lamarre-Condon’s alleged…
Brendan Nugent named as driver apprehended over alleged attack on Helen Haines↗
Police allege 43-year-old Tarrawingee man who drove Toyota LandCruiser was arrested at the scene in Wangaratta Follow our Helen Haines live blog for latest updates Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria? Get our new…
NAB to cut 2,500 jobs in massive restructure↗
Bank says bulk of redundancies will occur before end of year, citing challenging economy, competition and ‘rapid technological change’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast National Australia Bank is cutting 2,500…
Milan luxury shops close as Italy prepares to deploy troops in the city after days of protests↗
Demonstrations over poor public services and rising costs spiralled over the weekend, with shops looted and property vandalised Why are people protesting across Europe? Italy’s government will dispatch 500 army troops to “defend Milan”…
‘I don’t want to be known as a hero’: barber who rushed to help Helen Haines praised by PM↗
Ricky Jefferies says he had just finished cutting hair when he grabbed and held the driver who allegedly deliberately stuck the Indi MP Follow our Helen Haines live blog for latest updates Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in…
Car allegedly did U-turn and struck Helen Haines twice, in what some believe was target attack against MP↗
Independent MP is in critical yet stable condition, as police interview alleged attacker in Wangaratta incident Follow our Helen Haines live blog for latest updates Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria? Get our new…
Trump borrows from far right to blame unrest in France on immigration↗
President ignores school conditions and cost of living and says he warned Macron ‘the whole world was coming in’ Explainer: why are people protesting across Europe? Donald Trump and JD Vance deployed a familiar US playbook on Europe,…
Andy Burnham outlines new rules to outlaw ‘rip-off’ private parking fines↗
Drivers to get five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after their session ends Drivers will get a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after their parking session ends before…
Helen Haines was chatting with locals at a dog park on Monday morning. By the afternoon, she was fighting for her life↗
Australia’s politicians have been facing increasing threats and abuse. It can no longer be dismissed as social media noise or harmless comment Follow our live blog for latest updates Politicians condemn alleged attack after independent MP…
Helen Haines: independent MP in critical condition in Melbourne’s Alfred hospital after being struck by car in Wangaratta – follow updates↗
A joint counter-terrorism taskforce is investigating the incident, which Anthony Albanese alleged ‘wasn’t an accident’ ‘Deeply appalled’: politicians condemn alleged attack after Helen Haines critically injured Helen Haines, the principled…
‘Crucial opportunity to act’ as study finds most of Europe’s wild bee species in decline↗
As Cop17 kicks off, records since 1921 show more bee species declining than increasing in all parts of Europe except the Alps Most of Europe’s wild bee species and about half of its hover fly species have declined over the last century, a…
Burnham urges officials to come up with more radical options for Thames Water↗
Exclusive: Utility seen as ‘litmus test’ of PM’s promise to bring ‘essentials of life’ under public control Andy Burnham has told officials to rip up their plans for how to fix Thames Water and present him with more radical options for…
Israeli police detain 10 people in rare raid against West Bank settlers↗
Move comes after US photojournalist and group of European diplomats and Palestinians were assaulted in separate attacks Israeli police have detained 10 people in a rare raid against settlers, after a weekend of extreme violence in the…
ITV’s exposé of racism and misogyny in Reform? Just a few (more) bad apples | John Crace↗
While the party’s MPs went into hiding, it was left to its failed byelection candidate Matt Goodwin to defend it It was the dog that didn’t bark in the night. After Sunday night’s ITV exposé of widespread racism and misogyny within Reform,…
North Sea strikes could severely disrupt UK fuel supplies, union warns↗
More than 160 offshore rig workers plan walkout amid rising tensions between unions and oil companies North Sea workers are preparing to strike at oil rigs across the ageing basin over the coming weeks in a sign of growing tensions…
Minister says Mahmood’s migration policy will ‘prolong integration’↗
In now-removed post, Miatta Fahnbulleh criticised home secretary’s proposal to extend qualifying period for settlement in UK The energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, appears to have criticised Shabana Mahmood’s migration policy in a post…
Ferocious criticism from all sides underlines Macron’s isolation↗
French president has compounded impression of arrogance with strategic errors – and consequences could be profound Europe live – latest updates The near-universal chorus of condemnation that greeted Emmanuel Macron’s address to the nation…
Masts removed from bomb-laden WWII ship in Thames in bid to avoid explosion↗
American warship sank in 1944 with approximately 1,400 tonnes of munitions onboard A sunken US wartime ship in the Thames estuary holding enough unexploded bombs to devastate a Kent coastal town and send a tidal wave through London has…
Farage claim that £5m was reward for Brexit was ‘not press office line’, close aide says↗
Exclusive: Undercover footage of Dan Jukes raises fresh questions about Reform leader’s statement that £5m gift was for security Nigel Farage undermined his own claims that a £5m gift was for security when he referred to the money as a…
‘Concerning issues’ found at GB power grid by inquiry into cover-up claims↗
Neso control room staff accused senior executives of covering up extent of blackout risks during June heatwave Independent investigators have found significant and concerning “cultural issues” at Great Britain’s grid operator after control…
The Guardian — WorldInternationalPresented by Lucy Hough with Jon Henley; produced by Leonore Schick and Angus Neale; senior producer Ryan Ramgobin19 Oct 2026 France protests escalate with riots, looting and 2,400 arrests – The Latest↗
Last weekend there were mass protests across France, with more than half a million people estimated to have been involved. The unrest included rioting, looting and violent clashes with outnumbered police in cities including Paris,…