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)
Tigray rebel groups ‘forcibly recruiting boys as young as 15’ as fighting spreads 06. October 2026 (07:00) Civilians try to flee as men and boys rounded up on streets by new alliance as Ethiopia conflict erupts againAs renewed fighting has threatened a fresh humanitarian crisis in the northern region of Ethiopia, reports are emerging that a new alliance of armed groups in Tigray has been forcibly recruiting men and boys to its ranks.Renewed conflict erupted on 23 September between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which rules the region, shattering the fragile Pretoria peace agreement signed between the two sides in November 2022. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
RSPCA NSW director quits over welfare standards for RSPCA-branded chicken 06. October 2026 (06:26) Mark Steele says he is ‘ashamed to be associated’ with the RSPCA Certified scheme, which badges 97% of chicken sold in AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe vice-president of RSPCA New South Wales has left the animal welfare group, saying he is “sincerely ashamed” of the standards for RSPCA-certified chicken.Mark Steele, a senior counsel who was a volunteer member of the board from 2021 and also served as a non-executive director of RSPCA Australia until March, issued a statement on LinkedIn outlining his decision to leave the group’s NSW branch for good at the end of September. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alan Jones corresponded with 13-year-old who asked for financial help, court hears 06. October 2026 (05:57) Radio host took teenager to lunch, had him visit his apartment, and told him to keep some conversations secret, court hearsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlan Jones corresponded extensively with a 13-year-old who had written to him asking for financial help, showering the teenager with praise and asking him to keep some secrets from his mother.The teenager, known as complainant A, posted a letter to Jones after his father left and his single mother was struggling financially, the court heard on the first day of evidence given by complainant A in a closed court. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
