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Although the intense weather phenomena eased during the morning hours, emergency services remain on high alert, as further rain and thunderstorms cannot be ruled out during the day.

The measure would ease inequality and bolster healthcare – without draining our coffers or triggering a billionaire exodus On Tuesday, California voters will decide whether to enact Proposition 40, a one-time, 5% tax on the net worth of about 250 California billionaires. In recent months, a number of California billionaires and their apologists in the media and in government have come out swinging against the ballot measure. I’m not a billionaire, but I’m a Californian wealthy enough to know that they have no valid reason to fight the proposition. For multimillionaires like me, paying a 5% tax would not change our lives materially, and if we can afford this as people well below the billionaire line, certainly those at the very top can too. George Zimmer, a member of Patriotic Millionaires, is the chairperson, CEO and founder of Generation Tux, an online rental platform for tuxedos and suits. He is also the founder, former CEO and chair of the Men’s Wearhouse Continue reading...

Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens has endorsed the Republican candidate for the Senate after a spat with her party’s own candidate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed. The endorsement stunned Stevens’ Democrat colleagues, with one calling it a ‘despicable betrayal’ on the eve of the midterm elections. So what will it mean for the race? Lucy Hough speaks to US southern bureau chief and host of Anywhere but Washington Oliver Laughland Continue reading...

Former paratrooper Karl Bushby arrives back in Hull and becomes first person to walk continuously across planet After a 28-year odyssey spanning 29 countries, 36,000 miles, facing down polar bears, kidnappers and a spell in Russian custody, Karl Bushby was finally back in the arms of his longsuffering mother, Angela. “Where have I been?” he joked as Angela sobbed into his chest with a mix of relief, pride and no doubt the odd sleepless night. Continue reading...

Disruption to winds above Arctic threatens to alter weather patterns across parts of continent in coming weeks The stratospheric polar vortex over the northern hemisphere is facing the prospect of an unusually early weakening. Forecast models suggest it could weaken significantly over the next 10 days, when it would typically be strengthening. A major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event is possible. This could influence weather patterns in the following weeks, increasing the likelihood of persistent areas of high pressure across the mid-latitudes and colder conditions weeks later. Continue reading...

Deal deepens company’s relationship with Fifa Dazn paid $1bn for global rights for the 2025 tournament Dazn has secured an exclusive option for global streaming rights for the next men’s Club World Cup in 2029 in a development that deepens its partnership with Fifa. The Saudi Arabia-backed ­streaming company came to Fifa’s aid before the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the US last year by agreeing to pay $1bn (£745m) for global rights for the tournament after many ­linear broadcasters and other streamers had declined to bid. Continue reading...

The Financial Times reports that Spotify aims to launch its AI-powered remixing service in the first quarter of 2027, meaning it could be unveiled around February's Grammy Awards. Read Entire Article

‘If it was punishment for the words, it was right’ Carrick hails ‘magical’ Old Trafford after comeback win Bruno Fernandes said Michael ­Carrick was correct to drop him last month as he reflected on a remarkable Manchester United comeback win against Roma at Old Trafford. A twice-taken penalty from ­Fernandes set United’s revival from 2-0 down in motion, two goals from Matheus Cunha ultimately sealing a win that could yet save the embattled Carrick’s job. Continue reading...

Action taken to prevent bottom trawling in the marine protected area and conserve porpoise populations Greenpeace activists have dropped boulders in the North Sea to snag the dragnets of industrial trawlers fishing in a marine protected area. Activists onboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise dropped the giant stones to form an underwater barrier around the Southern North Sea marine protected area (MPA) – the UK’s most bottom-trawled MPA. Continue reading...

Inkpen and Combe, Berkshire: If the price goes down, the village WhatsApp group lights up Beyond the reach of the gas mains, there is tension about the coming winter. Many rural homes have an open fire or wood burner, but most rely on kerosene oil for hot water and heating. Since the US-Iran war began, its cost has more than doubled. Currently, 1,000 litres (lasting 10-12 weeks) is £1,219. A year ago, it was £549. Seasoned wood is in demand. We watch the oil price rise, with none of the consumer protections afforded to gas customers. If the price per litre drops, as during the June ceasefire, the village WhatsApp group lights up. Continue reading...

House Democratic leaders are considering action against Haley Stevens after her surprise endorsement of Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race over Abdul El-Sayed.

GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers defended Dem Rep Haley Stevens as top Democrats erupted over her decision to cross party lines and endorse him over Abdul El-Sayed just before Election Day.

Costumed protesters say superhero and fantasy imagery brings joy and a message to a movement over poor school conditions and the cost of living — even as Paris police crack down on masks.

Growing number of countries are resisting Russia’s reintegration into international hockey after a sports court lifted a ban on competition Canada has joined a coalition of countries refusing to play ⁠ice hockey teams from Russia, with prime minister Mark Carney saying Russian skaters will not be able to compete in ⁠a world junior championship next month due to the war in Ukraine. “While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal, unjustified, horrific ‌war in Ukraine, as long as that’s going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada,” Carney told reporters on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Mercedes driver makes history at 20 years old by exceeding all expectations in only his second season Before the 2026 season had begun there was something of a consensus within Formula One. Mercedes appeared to have the fastest car and George Russell was favourite for the title. Beside him in what was indeed a dominant Mercedes, his teenage teammate, Kimi Antonelli, was the prodigious talent who was expected to require honing after a tricky rookie season. Said consensus lasted one race, by the sixth it had been turned on its head and Antonelli was squarely on his way to being champion. Few had doubted that the then 19-year-old Italian would prove to be strong in a car that for the first two-thirds of the season was the class of the field but for Antonelli to come out of the blocks with such verve, aggressive skill and also the judgment and at times maturity of a veteran was revelatory. As the youngest F1 world champion and Italy’s first since Alberto Ascari in 1953, Antonelli made history this year but it was the way he did it which truly caught the eye. Continue reading...

While PM is keen to support those making a contribution his backing of Shabana Mahmood’s hard line is no surprise While out on the campaign trail in Makerfield, Andy Burnham gave a glimpse into where he might land on Labour’s plans for immigration reform, which had already been decried by the left of the party as unfair and the right as electorally necessary. Asked by the Guardian what he thought of Reform’s attack on “open borders Andy” – Nigel Farage’s early attempt to define him as soft on migration – the then Manchester mayor dismissed the charge as “ridiculous” and went on the defensive. Continue reading...

Her latest plea comes three months after urging ‘someone to come forward’ with details about Nancy Guthrie Savannah Guthrie has issued a new plea for help on the whereabouts of her 84-year-old mother, who authorities believe was abducted in February. On Sunday, the Today show co-host shared a photo of an old drawing made by her daughter featuring an umbrella and the words: “I know it might not seem like it but I really need my mommy.” Continue reading...

Brits under 45 are more receptive to AI giving financial advice, with 11% preferring discussing money problems with an AI assistant, compared with 9% relying on a financial advisor.

Actor, who appeared in Dad’s Army and Rainbow, remembered as ‘true gent’ by TV producer Russell T Davies John Leeson, the actor best known as the voice of K9, the robot dog in Doctor Who, has died at 83. Leeson’s son, Guy Ducker, shared the news on Facebook. He wrote: “I regret to announce the death of my father … after a summer of illness. The end was peaceful.” Continue reading...

Many treatments are now extending lives, but the measure of progress should not end with a scan or a survival curve Two decades ago, a dear friend called me in a trembling voice. Was there hope for his young nephew, whose cancer had spread to the brain? Sadly, “no”, I said. But today, for such patients, there are options that were unimaginable back then. Recently, researchers at the European Society For Medical Oncology presented the latest chapter results from a randomised controlled trial of a bespoke cancer vaccine for patients with high-risk melanoma. The trial involved 1,137 patients whose melanoma had been surgically removed but remained at high recurrence risk. They received either pembrolizumab, an established immunotherapy, or pembrolizumab combined with an experimental mRNA vaccine, designed to help the immune system recognise and attack targets unique to the patient’s tumour. Continue reading...

Here’s a hot take: The outcome of the 2026 midterms is unlikely to turn on close races in California. California has no statewide races that are expected to be close, and it is a solid blue state that recently redrew its US House maps to maximize Democratic gains. So it’s a bit baffling that the […]

Australia’s worst products and services for the year have been named by consumer advocacy group Choice Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Concert tickets that surge to $1,650, an airline pocketing $75m of unused flight credits and a washer/dryer cycle that takes 25 hours have all made the dishonour roll in consumer advocacy group Choice’s annual Shonky awards. Now in their 21st year, the Shonkys spotlight Australia’s worst products and services as decided by Choice. Continue reading...

‘It’s the disregard for the rule of law. It just seems like they’re thumbing their nose at it’ In the battleground state of Maine, Todd Cox, 63, has supported the state’s incumbent Republican senator Susan Collins not once, but twice, in previous elections. Not this time. On Tuesday, Cox, a technology professional, cast his vote for Collins’ Democratic challenger Troy Jackson – driven not by pressing local issues, but broader concern “for the direction the country is going in”, he said. Continue reading...

Students using Google software in schools will not be allowed to use Google search unless their school system also provides them access to artificial intelligence tools

EXCLUSIVE: “If the Republicans lose both the House and the Senate, I think it will be, in my estimation, entirely down to that decision to attack Iran and the economic fallout from that decision,” says Piers Morgan of the ongoing war, the ramifications for today’s midterms and Donald Trump. “It’s very hard to see how […]

The PC gaming mods repository Nexus Mods is making disclosures about AI mandatory for uploads of new mods, meaning that mod authors will have to declare "whether AI has been used in their work," the site announced today as part of a big post about AI-generated content on the platform. "One of the most consistent […]