Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after botched execution attempt, lawyers say 06. October 2026 (23:21) The prisoner received two doses of pentobarbital last Wednesday as authorities tried to put her to deathChrista Pike, a Tennessee prisoner who survived the state’s attempt to execute her, is awake and speaking as she receives treatment at a hospital, her attorneys said on Tuesday.Pike, 50, survived two doses of pentobarbital as Tennessee officials attempted to put her to death in a case that shocked many in America and created headlines around the world. She was set to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says he is weighing suspension of federal gas tax 06. October 2026 (23:19) President floats idea as voter anger over rising costs threatens Republican hopes in November midtermsDonald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was considering suspending the federal gasoline tax, a sign the president is noticing voter anger over fuel costs a month before the midterm elections.“We’re thinking about that,” Trump said when asked whether the tax should be suspended. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israeli settlers beat press photographer as soldiers watch in West Bank 06. October 2026 (23:00) Jaafar Ashtiyeh was covering violence against olive farmers when settlers set upon him with the butts of their rifles Armed Israeli settlers beat a photographer in the presence of Israeli soldiers, hospitalising him, as he covered worsening settler violence against olive farmers in the occupied West Bank.Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a 58-year-old veteran photographer for Agence France-Presse in Palestine, was assaulted by a group of settlers, who beat him with the butts of their rifles, despite him being marked as press. He was assaulted in view of about a dozen armed Israeli soldiers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘All I want to do is cry’: trauma of 7 October survivors three years after the attacks 06. October 2026 (22:00) Israeli communities shattered by Hamas massacres are torn between rebuilding their lives and remembering lost friends and relativesKeith Siegel spent many of his long hours in Hamas captivity in Gaza etching everything that happened after 7 October 2023 into his memory. For 484 days, he recited to himself every place he was held, the dates he was moved and every attack or humiliation he endured or witnessed.He aimed to store intelligence that could help Israeli forces free other hostages if he was released, to keep track of time as the days slid by and be able to tell his family what happened to him. Now his body is free, but he cannot loosen those memories. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chancellor plans major intervention to help poorer UK households with rising energy bills 06. October 2026 (21:27) Exclusive: Officials working on further radical changes that would change how much energy companies could charge customersJohn Healey is planning a major intervention to cut energy bills for poorer households in this month’s budget, after ministers became alarmed at forecasts that show bills rising by hundreds of pounds in January.The chancellor is working on plans to spend more than £1bn to help energy consumers, the bulk of which is likely to go towards increasing the discount given to households on certain benefits. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cambridge academics say university’s plans to investigate Jason Arday’s death are inadequate 06. October 2026 (20:44) Letter signed by more than 40 signatories say Cambridge has backed away from promised thorough review of events before Arday’s deathSenior Cambridge academics have criticised the university’s plans to investigate Prof Jason Arday’s death as inadequate, and said those responsible for “serious failures of leadership” should face consequences.In a letter to Chris Smith, Cambridge’s chancellor, the academics said “it is not yet clear” how the proposed review will answer difficult questions about the university’s involvement in the events leading up to Arday’s death, including its handling of the criticism Arday suffered after his appointment as professor of sociology of education in 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California couple charged with child abuse in surrogacy scheme involving at least 21 kids 06. October 2026 (20:41) Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan had 15 children, aged between two months to 13 years, removed from their homeA California couple has been arrested on child abuse charges following an investigation into a surrogacy scheme involving at least 21 kids, police said on Tuesday.Silvia Zhang and her husband, Guojun Xuan are expected to face conspiracy to commit child abuse charges, according to the Los Angeles county sheriff’s department. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour figures rule out working with Greens after ‘Zionism is racism’ vote 06. October 2026 (20:26) Minister says they could not see parties cooperating, while official says coalition should be formally ruled outSenior Labour party figures said it was very unlikely their party would cooperate with the Greens in the future after they adopted a policy treating Zionism as a form of racism.One Labour minister said they could not foresee how the two parties could work together, while a government official said Labour should formally rule out a future coalition or other arrangement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Whistleblower suit alleges Trump ordered FBI investigation on LA anti-ICE protesters 06. October 2026 (20:08) The White House denies the allegations as ‘false’ and says the ‘first amendment does not protect violent rioting’US politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump ordered the FBI to investigate protesters in Los Angeles who were demonstrating against the president’s immigration crackdown, according to a whistleblower complaint.US senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat who represents California and serves on the Senate judiciary committee, said his office had received a copy of the complaint, which makes sweeping allegations about the Trump administration’s response to protests in LA in early 2025. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Google told to halt work on datacentres in Finland over environmental concerns 06. October 2026 (20:02) Order on two construction sites comes after Google failed to carry out environmental impact assessmentsGoogle has been ordered to temporarily stop work on two datacentres in Finland after failing to do the necessary environmental impact assessments on its construction sites.The planned datacentres in Muhos and Kajanni are part of a €13bn (£11bn) project across multiple sites in northern Finland by the technology company amid huge demand for space to house online infrastructure. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
