‘Thank you Andy Burnham’: prisoners react as they begin to leave under early release scheme – UK politics live 01. October 2026 (15:04) Hundreds of prisoners are being released early today across England and Wales in attempt to ease overcrowdingJust as a reminder of why prisoners are being released early, here is an explainer by Jamie Grierson which sets out how the scheme works, why it was introduced and the changes made by Burnham’s government:Jamie writes:The Labour government says it inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse, with fewer than 100 spaces left in the summer of 2024. No 10 says a lack of investment in the prison estate, with just 500 net places added over a decade, has led to a situation where adult male prisons are now at 98% capacity. It says the steps are necessary while it builds capacity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tennessee governor halts executions after second botched lethal injection attempt this year – US politics live 01. October 2026 (14:56) Bill Lee pauses state’s remaining executions for the rest of the year after inmate Christa Pike survives two lethal injectionsTennessee woman on death row taken to hospital after surviving two lethal injectionsSign up for the Breaking News US emailThe White House has, again, blocked CNN from covering Donald Trump as part of the rotating press pool.The outlet was scheduled to be a part of the group of media traveling to Texas and Oklahoma with the president today, but was removed from list of newsrooms in place for the trip, per the White House schedule. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bedford rail crash: train sped up after red light warning, say investigators 01. October 2026 (14:40) Driver of East Midlands train, who died in June crash, received automatic warning after passing red light but train continued to accelerateThe train that ran into the back of another in the Bedford rail crash sped up after the driver received a warning he had passed a red light, rail investigators have reported.The driver of the East Midlands train, who died in the crash in June, acknowledged the automatic warning but did not appear to act after passing a danger signal that was rarely ever red. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British Sikh activist released from Delhi jail after nine-year detention 01. October 2026 (14:30) Indian government issued with warning it would be in contempt of court if it failed to release Jagtar Singh JohalThe British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal has been released from a Delhi prison after the Indian high court warned the government it would be found in contempt of court if it continued to attempt to keep him in jail despite an 18 September court order releasing him on bail. Johal has been incarcerated for nine years without any full trial.The court order was issued after Johal’s lawyers issued a writ of habeas corpus alleging he was being detained against the express direction of the court. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine persists with Russian oil refinery strikes, defying Trump on fuel price warnings 01. October 2026 (14:09) Bombardment is headache for Trump before midterms, though analysts say his Iran war is main driver of rising pricesEurope live – latest updatesUkraine is pressing on with strikes on Russian oil refineries, defying Donald Trump, who blames the attacks for exacerbating a global diesel shortage and pushing up fuel prices.Kyiv struck an oil facility in Russia’s southern Samara region overnight, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday in a statement on social media. The Ukrainian president added that a Russian vessel in the Black Sea was hit, as well as a launch and storage site for attack drones in the Oryol region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California helicopter crash kills two people and leaves two hospitalized 01. October 2026 (14:08) One person remains missing after medical helicopter crashed off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, officials sayA medical helicopter crashed off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, killing two people and leaving two hospitalized, authorities said.Rescuers early on Thursday searched for a fifth person who was reported to be in the aircraft and was missing, the Los Angeles county fire department said in a social media post. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US datacenter discharged large amounts of pollution for almost a year with no permits 01. October 2026 (14:00) Records show Vineland facility in New Jersey emitted health-harming pollution before regulators stepped inDataOne, the Microsoft-linked New Jersey datacenter recently hit with a $1m fine for running unpermitted generators, emitted large amounts of health-harming air pollution for nearly a year before state regulators stepped in, according to public records obtained by Floodlight.The Vineland facility’s 62 gas-fired generators became public in August after a Floodlight/Guardian visual investigation found them operating without permits. The New Jersey department of environmental protection last week fined the company over the fleet but did not disclose how long the generators had been operating nor how much air pollution they had released into the surrounding community over the past year.This story is from Floodlight, a non-profit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action. Sign up for Floodlight’s newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mamdani’s nuanced plan offers a roadmap to tackle antisemitism – and reignites criticism of the mayor 01. October 2026 (14:00) Critics noted that the plan does not discuss Israel; others praised it for not conflating Jews with the state of IsraelWhen the New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, announced the city’s first-ever municipal strategy to address antisemitism – a nuanced, multi-pronged approach ranging from greater security measures for synagogues to an increased focus on Jewish history in public school education – critics were quick to note what the 33-page document does not mention at all: Israel.Israel has played an outsized role in Mamdani’s campaign and since his election, with the mayor standing by his years-long support for Palestinians, and frequently describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Page one of repressive playbook’: critics warn of Trump’s conspiratorial attacks 01. October 2026 (14:00) President’s outlandish and extensive conspiracy theories endanger US freedoms, health and science, experts saySince the start of his second presidency, Donald Trump has often launched outlandish conspiratorial attacks on critics and foes that mock them and label their views as hoaxes, prompting scholars and legal experts to say Trump’s attacks endanger US freedoms, public health and science.Trump’s extensive use of conspiracy theories is the hallmark of an authoritarian leader that has weakened trust in the coming midterm elections, dangerously ignored scientific evidence, and often pushed for prosecutions of his political enemies in ways that seriously erode civil liberties, say critics. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
England forward Ivan Toney pleads not guilty to Soho nightclub assault 01. October 2026 (13:50) Striker accused of head-butting and punching manElected for crown court trial in front of judge and juryIvan Toney has pleaded not guilty to assault after being accused of head-butting and punching a member of the public at a Soho nightclub. The England striker appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Thursday, entering a plea of not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.The court heard that on 6 December last year, words were exchanged between the 30-year-old striker and Saber Da Silva at 100 Wardour Street, a live music venue. The prosecutor, Tom Heslop, said it was not known what was said between the two men, but the exchange resulted in them “squaring up” to one another before Toney “lunged forward and head-butted the complainant, followed by a few punches”. The altercation left Da Silva with injuries to his nose and fingers, it was alleged. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
