Israeli ambassador to Australia says he hopes for return to ‘traditional friendship’ on October 7 anniversary eve 06. October 2026 (09:00) Relations have soured between the two countries over a number of issues since 2023, but Hillel Newman says a ‘reset’ is possibleGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastIsrael’s ambassador to Australia says the third anniversary of October 7 is an opportunity for both countries to return to “traditional friendship”.But, in the lead-up to commemorations on Wednesday marking Hamas’ terror attack, leaders of Australia’s Palestinian community say the federal government should do more to help the diaspora suffering since the war on Gaza.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keeping up with the Bolsonaros: Flávio’s surprise first-round election win heralds rise of a political dynasty 06. October 2026 (09:00) Four members of disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro’s family have been elected to office, most notably his wife and son Flávio, who won the first round of voting to be Brazil’s new presidentThe weekend’s elections in Brazil not only put Jair Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Flávio Bolsonaro, in the lead in the presidential race, but also underscored how far the former president has come in building a political dynasty.As his far-right senator son heads into a runoff against the leftist incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a sweeping far-right victory in congressional races also secured seats for Jair Bolsonaro’s wife, two of his sons and one of his brothers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A medieval manuscript has confounded scholars for centuries. Have they been reading it wrong all this time? 06. October 2026 (09:00) Researchers argue incorrect binding of Voynich manuscript radically changes ideas about its drawings and indecipherable textIt has been called the world’s most mysterious manuscript: a medieval set of pages filled with botanical drawings, astronomical diagrams, pictures of nude women and indecipherable text. Claimed at various times to be a book in a lost language, a musical score, an instruction manual or just an elaborate hoax, the so-called Voynich manuscript’s true meaning has defied cryptographers and codebreakers for centuries.Now, new research offers an explanation for why a scholarly consensus over this enduring puzzle has been so hard to come by: not only because its truth is so profoundly mysterious – but because everyone has been reading its pages in the wrong order. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Badenoch calls for UK ‘Iron Dome’ missile defence system - UK politics live 06. October 2026 (08:59) Conservatives plan ‘new integrated air and missile defence system to protect Britain from attack – in essence, a British “Iron Dome”’Q: You say your Iron Dome will protect the whole of the UK, and bases abroad. But Sir Richard Barrons, the former general, has said that a proper air defence like this would cost up to £100bn.Badenoch says Barrons is referring to an Israel-style Iron Dome.It’s not going to be exactly like the Irone Dome. We haven’t called it an Iron Dome. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Buckingham Palace says it will not fund Andrew’s legal action against police 06. October 2026 (08:44) Former Duke of York is attempting to quash search warrants that led to his arrest in FebruaryAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been warned not to use the king’s private money to fund his legal action against Thames Valley police.The former Duke of York is attempting to quash search warrants that led to his arrest, with a private high court hearing due to take place on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
From competing for food to a gold medal: the stories behind India’s Asian Games winners 06. October 2026 (08:30) The country’s 85-medal haul included athletes who trained with limited money and borrowed equipment. Plus, the Mumbai performer turning everyday absurdities into comedyIn a country where cricket eclipses every other sport, the recently concluded Asian Games offered a much-needed reminder of India’s breadth of sporting talent. In this edition of the games, in Japan, India won 85 medals: 21 golds, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals. I admit I did not know many of the players competing, or even some of the sports they play before putting this piece together. Learning about the stories, I wonder why not.There were individual breakthroughs, records broken and history made. There were also hard-fought team victories, including the Indian women’s hockey team gold medal after a 44-year wait. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Bully in every way’: domestic abuse survivors say ex-partners behind far-right UK street patrols 06. October 2026 (08:00) Seven women share their stories to make people aware of patterns of violence behind anti-immigration street patrol movementDuring their relationship, Lisa’s ex-partner was controlling. He kept her at home where he was emotionally and physically abusive towards her, including once attacking her with a machete.These days, he runs protests outside houses of multiple occupancy that he claims are housing asylum seekers. He coordinates groups of men to patrol the streets of his town, claiming to protect women but often using these patrols to profile and target men of colour. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Pull the plug’: protesters resort to direct action against AI firms 06. October 2026 (08:00) Campaign groups report surge in membership after a spate of AI safety alerts and apocalyptic warningsIn a bar below Waterloo Bridge, a cell of a fast-growing anti-AI protest movement met last week to plot their latest move: disrupting a tech industry dinner being addressed by a senior executive from the chip maker Nvidia.Emma, a 28-year-old bartender, had never before taken direct action and was the most nervous of the four plotters from Pull The Plug, one of a growing number of AI-focused campaign groups around the world. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian consumer confidence plunges to worst level since 1990s after RBA rate rise 06. October 2026 (07:54) Key indicator dropped about 20% after the Reserve Bank last month announced the highest interest rates since 2011Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian households are the most persistently pessimistic they have been since the early-1990s recession, after a fourth rate rise this year.Confidence among Australian consumers has plunged about 20% since the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted interest rates to the highest levels since 2011, according to the Westpac–Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Agreement to transition away from fossil fuels ‘not open for renegotiation’, Pacific leader tells pre-Cop 06. October 2026 (07:01) International leaders visit Tuvalu as part of climate talks co-hosted by Australia ahead of Cop31 conferencePacific island leaders have urged a promised global transition away from fossil fuels must not be left open to renegotiation as they gather in tiny Tuvalu in a bid to build momentum before a major climate summit.About 50 dignitaries – 14 national heads including Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, a list of climate change ministers and the heads of global agencies – flew to the low-lying atoll nation in a bid to bring attention to the plight of the countries most at risk from the climate crisis. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
