Clacton byelection polls open with Farage up against slew of fringe candidates
The Guardian •

Clacton byelection polls open with Farage up against slew of fringe candidates

Longest ballot in UK voting history features likes of Count Binface and Howling Laud Hope alongside Reform leader Polls have opened in Clacton, with thousands of residents in the Essex seat to vote in a ballot featuring Nigel Farage and a range of novelty and fringe candidates led by Count Binface.The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelection in a...

Clacton polls open with Farage up against slew of fringe candidates

Clacton polls open with Farage up against slew of fringe candidates

The Guardian •

Longest ballot in UK voting history features likes of Count Binface and Howling Laud Hope alongside Reform leader Polls have opened in Clacton, with thousands of residents in the Essex seat to vote in a ballot featuring Nigel Farage and a range of novelty and fringe candidates led by Count Binface.The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelection in a...

Yvette Cooper says Labour ‘did not do government very well’ under Starmer

Yvette Cooper says Labour ‘did not do government very well’ under Starmer

The Guardian •

Health secretary praises more collegiate style under Andy Burnham and says previous No 10 sidelined her from key policy launchYvette Cooper admits Labour has “not done government very well” in the last couple of years, and accused Keir Starmer’s No 10 of sidelining her during the launch of a key immigration policy when she was home secretary.Speaking on the Political Currency podcast with the form...

Chinese ‘pre-made children’ term reflects trend of parents prioritising study over summer fun

Chinese ‘pre-made children’ term reflects trend of parents prioritising study over summer fun

SCMP •

A new term, “pre-made children,” has recently gone viral on Chinese social media, highlighting the trend of parents prioritising their children’s studies over rest and enjoyment during summer holidays. This term, which gained traction this summer, is inspired by the concept of “pre-made meals,” describing factory-processed frozen foods that are easy to prepare. With many restaurants opting for thi...

Biology remarking makes DSE student one of Hong Kong’s 25 top scorers

Biology remarking makes DSE student one of Hong Kong’s 25 top scorers

SCMP •

A Form Six student has become one of Hong Kong’s top scorers in this year’s university entrance examinations after her biology grade was upgraded following a remarking request, bringing the record-breaking total to 25 students from 16 schools who achieved perfect scores. Sunny Sun Wat-ching, an 18-year-old student at N.T. Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long district Secondary School who sat the Diploma of Sec...

Thursday briefing: What happens after an asylum hotel closes?

Thursday briefing: What happens after an asylum hotel closes?

The Guardian •

In today’s newsletter: With more sites closed and more lives upended, a look at the rhetoric and reality of where asylum seekers should be housedGood morning. This week, immigration minister Anna Turley announced, with minor fanfare, the government will stop using a further 13 hotels to house asylum seekers across the country.It brings the total shut this year to 44, in pursuit of Labour’s manifes...

Why Putin’s first Kuril Islands visit matters as Russia-Japan ties hit new low

Why Putin’s first Kuril Islands visit matters as Russia-Japan ties hit new low

Times of India •

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands for the first time. This visit occurred amid deeply strained relations between Russia and Japan. Japan strongly protests the visit, reiterating its territorial claims over the islands. The long-standing dispute has intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This territorial disagreement prevents a formal World War II peac...

Alan Jones’ lawyers accused by defence of ‘intimidating’ witness in indecent assault case

Alan Jones’ lawyers accused by defence of ‘intimidating’ witness in indecent assault case

The Guardian •

Judge rejects intimidation claim as high profile trial continues with complainant J’s ex-girlfriend cross-examined by shock jock’s defence teamThe prosecutor in the Alan Jones trial has accused the defence team in court of “intimidating” an alleged victim’s former girlfriend after she asserted she wasn’t financially motivated to provide evidence supporting her ex’s allegations.On Thursday, compla...

Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan

Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan

SCMP •

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the far-eastern Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday, prompting a “strong” protest by Japan which also claims the territory. Russian-Japanese relations have long been dogged by tensions over the contested islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. The Kremlin posted a video of Putin in the Kuril Islan...

Reformers associate may have ‘lied’ about a $15,000 commitment from Angus Taylor, Icac hears

Reformers associate may have ‘lied’ about a $15,000 commitment from Angus Taylor, Icac hears

The Guardian •

Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney tells inquiry a message claiming opposition leader’s support could have been a ‘boast’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA factional ally of Angus Taylor has denied ever asking the federal opposition leader for money for a group of Christian Liberal power brokers who ...

Category C and women’s prisons could be upgraded to ease overcrowding

Category C and women’s prisons could be upgraded to ease overcrowding

The Guardian •

Exclusive: Ministers explore diverting male prisoners serving short terms or on remand away from tougher jailsMinisters are examining a possible upgrade of security at men’s category C and women’s prisons to deal with an overcrowding crisis across the England and Wales estate, the Guardian understands.Officials have explored diverting prisoners on remand or serving short sentences away from catego...

Australia’s largest aluminium smelter to run on renewables by 2033 after Rio Tinto strikes $2.5bn taxpayer bailout deal

Australia’s largest aluminium smelter to run on renewables by 2033 after Rio Tinto strikes $2.5bn taxpayer bailout deal

The Guardian •

Rio Tinto makes power supply deal with federal and NSW government to cut emissions and decarbonise, preventing potential closureFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastResources giant Rio Tinto says Australia’s largest aluminium smelter will run entirely on renewable energy by 2033 after it struck a $2.5bn subsidy deal with t...

Australia’s largest aluminium smelter to run on renewables by 2023 after Rio Tinto strikes $2.5bn taxpayer bailout deal

Australia’s largest aluminium smelter to run on renewables by 2023 after Rio Tinto strikes $2.5bn taxpayer bailout deal

The Guardian •

Rio Tinto makes power supply deal with federal and NSW government to cut emissions and decarbonise, preventing potential closureFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastResources giant Rio Tinto says Australia’s largest aluminium smelter will run entirely on renewable energy by 2033 after it struck a $2.5bn subsidy deal with t...