51 m. ago Labour has succeeded only in strengthening Farage. The way is now open for Zack Polanski’s Greens | George Monbiot

By caving to the hard right and corporate greed, Labour has left a gaping hole the new Green party leader is best placed to fillThere’s an obvious way to destroy Nigel Farage’s political momentum. A poll by the research group Persuasion UK, testing various messages, found that by far the most effective line of attack is highlighting his complicity with corporate interests. The message that hit hardest was that Farage’s real loyalties lie with “the rich, the powerful, his mates in big business”, and his “party” (actually a business called Reform 2025 Ltd) “has taken over £2m from fossil fuel lobbyists, polluters, and climate change deniers He’s not smashing the system. He and his rich friends basically are the system.”But this is a string Labour cannot yank, as it would pull its own roof down. If there is a defining mark of Keir Starmer’s administration, it is immediate capitulation to powerful lobby groups, especially corporations and billionaires. This is what explains the otherwis...

Politics

1 hour ago Sánchez: Europe’s response to war in Gaza has been a ‘failure’

Spanish prime minister says double standards over Gaza and Ukraine threaten to undermine the west’s global standing‘You need solidarity and consistency’: Pedro Sánchez on the EU, Trump and fighting the far right Europe and the west’s double standards over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza threaten to undermine its global standing, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has warned, describing the response to Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory as one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.In an interview with the Guardian before talks with UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, in London on Wednesday, the socialist leader also said the US under Donald Trump was trying to end the post-second world war, rules-based global order it had originally created. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Sun, sex, but no sangria? The Balearics’ booze crackdown might just save their tourist industry | Dimah Ajeeb

The islands say they no longer want to be Europe’s cheap, consequence-free party playground. But is the move upmarket working?Last summer, Spain’s Balearic Islands launched one of Europe’s toughest crackdowns on alcohol-fuelled party tourism. In popular resorts such as Magaluf in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza, tourists spilled out of bars at dawn, clutched cheap bottles from late-night shops, and treated entire neighbourhoods as giant open-air nightclubs.Local people were fed up. Noise complaints, violent brawls and clashes between residents and intoxicated tourists became routine. Rents rose while longstanding neighbourhoods became hollowed out into seasonal party zones. Pilar Hernando, from Palma, Mallorca told Reuters in 2024: “Prices go up, rents go up, everything goes up except salaries.” Hernando had to move into a caravan owing to the lack of affordable housing. Average rents have risen 158% over the past decade in the Balearics, with Palma now among the most expensive ci...

Politics

2 h. ago Xi, Putin and Kim: behind the choreographed image that could symbolise a shift in the global balance of power

In an unprecedented spectacle the leaders of Russia, China and North Korea led a group of more than 20 world leaders at a victory day parade in BeijingFull report: Xi Jinping appears with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un at China military paradeIt is an image that, had it been published just a few years ago, would have been dismissed as a piece of mischievous photo-shopping: the leaders of Russia and China, accompanied by the head of a pariah regime whose mission to arm his country with nuclear weapons had been opposed at the United Nations by his two companions.But dramatic shifts in the geopolitical landscape – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and, crucially, the re-election of Donald Trump – have combined to bring Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un together in what many observers are calling a dramatic redrawing of the global balance of power. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Trump goes scorched earth on Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un for 'conspiring against America' as world despots unite to unveil chilling new weapon at China's military parade

Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the military parade to mark 80 years since the war, warning humanity must choose between peace and war. His guests included Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Events

4 h. ago My friend divulged disgusting sex secrets about my FATHER between sips of wine: DEAR JANE

My fear is that this drives a wedge between us or, worse, it could make things awkward for me with my dad.

Politics

4 h. ago China’s victory day parade live: Xi Jinping appears alongside Putin and Kim Jong

Xi Jinping is showing off China’s military hardware at event attended by leaders from Russia, North Korea, Iran and MyanmarThe parade has commenced, they are singing the Chinese national anthem.Photos have emerged showing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stepping off his armoured train at Beijing Railway Station accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Xi, Putin, and Kim gather at Tiananmen Gate for a grand military parade

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and guests, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, have arrived at Tiananmen Gate for a military parade in Beijing

Events

5 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: His jagged, gapped teeth had shades of Hannibal Lecter. Better watch out

The new supremo is Zack Polanski, 42, a smooth-talking vegan and ex-Lib Dem hypnotherapist who used to tell women they could think their way to a bigger bust.

Politics

5 h. ago US House committee releases more than 33,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein files

Files appear to contain information already in public domain as calls grow for release of all pertinent documents The US House of Representatives oversight committee on Tuesday released thousands of pages of records related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from the department of justice.The release comes as the Trump administration has been embroiled in months of controversy over its decision not to release additional files in the case. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges and was alleged to have abused hundreds of girls. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Kim Jong Un makes rare trip outside North Korea with 'future leader' daughter

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made a rare visit outside of his secretive country to attend the China's largest ever military parade in Beijing, to mark "Victory Day."

Politics

5 h. ago Block on North Sea drilling 'risks blackouts', Kemi Badenoch says in wake of Labour's new ban

The Tory leader said Britain is 'dangerously exposed' to supply squeezes, and families risked paying the price unless Keir Starmer changed tack.

Events

6 h. ago US House committee releases batch of Epstein records as White House fights release of all files – live

Republican-led oversight committee releases over 33,000 pages of files related to investigation of late sex offenderDonald Trump’s “exciting announcement” expected at 2pm ET will be “related to the Department of Defense”, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna plan to hold a news conference tomorrow with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse as the political fallout from the saga continues to engage Congress on several fronts. Continue reading...

Society

8 h. ago Farage to say UK has ‘authoritarian censorship regimes’ after Linehan arrest

The Reform UK leader will give evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on free speech in the UK.

Events

8 h. ago Demi Moore shares Bruce Willis' biggest personality shift from dementia after his wife revealed they live in separate homes

As Willis left Hollywood amid his health problems, his blended family rallied around him, including Moore and their daughters Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31 .

Society

8 h. ago Kim Jong Un's daughter makes shock appearance at military parade and fuels speculation about new leader

Kim Jong Un's daughter made a shock appearance alongside her father in Beijing, sparking rumors that she is being groomed to take over the regime.

Events

8 h. ago Dad necked vodka before punching partner on TUI flight in front of off

Kevin Chapman lashed out at his girlfriend while on an overnight flight from Greece to the UK and struck her in the face in front of an off-duty police officer who was on the plane

Politics

9 h. ago Bill Belichick, 73, and girlfriend Jordon Hudson, 24, are trolled after UNC football debut blowout

The former NFL coach signed a five-year contract with UNC last year

Politics

10 h. ago Olivia Attwood sets record straight on first same sex couple joining Bad Boyfriends cast

ITV's Olivia Atwood's Bad Boyfriends will return this month with a series two line-up featuring one gay couple and the host said it was a "no brainer" to include them

Politics

10 h. ago Pressure is mounting on Green Party's new leader to sack his deputy for defending Hamas's attack on Israel

Zack Polanski won a landslide victory on a ticket of 'eco-populism' and a new focus on Left-wing issues such as supporting Palestine.

Politics