Another democratic socialist victory – Angie Nixon in Florida – sends shock waves through party establishment

• Iran's foreign minister stated that Tehran is not interested in a temporary ceasefire, insisting instead on a comprehensive deal to fully end the war. • This stance follows comments from Donald Trump, who downplayed hopes for a deal by noting that there is currently no dialogue occurring.

• A comprehensive revision checklist has been released for UPSC Civil Services Mains 2026 aspirants, focusing on 15 essential International Relations (IR) topics. • The guide highlights critical areas including the India-UK FTA, Arctic geopolitics, UNSC reforms, neighbourhood ties, and the concept of "Pax Silica."

Foreign minister says Australia is ‘outraged’ after Israeli government decided not to pursue criminal proceedings over 2024 triple drone strike on humanitarian convoyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s foreign minister has expressed “outrage” and will call in the Israel ambassador over the IDF decision overnight not to open a criminal investigation into Gaza strikes that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.In a statement released on Thursday, Penny Wong called the timing of the decision, on World Humanitarian Day, “ especially insulting”. Australia’s ambassador to Israel has been directed to convey the government’s views directly. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs minister says timing of decision was ‘especially insulting’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe foreign minister, Penny Wong, says the government is “outraged” over the decision by the Israeli Defence Force not to pursue a criminal investigation into the strike on an aid convoy in 2024 that killed seven people including Australian Zomi FrankcomIn a statement issued this morning Wong says it falls “far short of the accountability we expect” and she will “call in Israel’s ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman and have directed Australia’s ambassador to Israel to convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian government considers next steps”.The Australian government learned of Israel’s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day - which is especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.Zomi represented the best of Australia. Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice.This was confirmed by Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report.Democracies seek and accept higher standards. The Australian government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues. Continue reading...

Rising costs of social safety-net programs, military and Trump’s tax cuts strain federal government budgetsThe US gross national debt pile has topped $40tn ⁠for the first time, the treasury department said on Wednesday, in another troubling milestone in the wake of decades of borrowing to fund government spending.As the rising costs of social safety-net programs, the military and Donald Trump’s tax cuts strain US federal government budgets, the treasury’s daily cash and debt balances statement showed total public debt outstanding at $40.047tn on Tuesday – a disclosure likely to escalate fears of a brewing fiscal crisis. Continue reading...

Officials say all seven people onboard killed, including Telemundo executive and Ecuador intelligence chiefSeven people, including five Americans, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed on Wednesday morning in a remote part of northern Kenya, according to local police and the state department.Among the dead were an executive with Telemundo, the US-based Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service. Continue reading...

Aalim Ahmed, five, fell from 15th-floor window at tower block family had asked to be moved out of, court hearsAn inquest into the death of a five-year-old boy who fell from a 15th-floor window has heard that more measures could have been taken to make it safer.Aalim Ahmed, who was autistic, died when he fell from a kitchen window at a residential block in Plaistow, east London. His father, Makail Ahmed, rushed from the top floor temporary social housing flat and discovered his body shortly before 6am on 16 May 2024. Continue reading...

Researchers at UCL warn repeated exam attempts may undermine confidence of students and raise risk of dropping outForcing teenagers who fail GCSEs into multiple resits has a negative impact on their mental health, according to research to be published as pupils receive their grades on Thursday.The study by academics at University College London (UCL) compared the mental wellbeing of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who failed to reach a grade 4 or equivalent in maths or English GCSEs – and found that only those in England, where resits are mandatory, showed significantly lower wellbeing. Continue reading...

PM wants to reduce department’s stranglehold on public purse and bring long-term thinking to economic policyAndy Burnham is far from the first prime minister to dream of taming the power of the mighty Treasury.Boris Johnson all but forced the resignation of Sajid Javid by handpicking his team; Margaret Thatcher favoured her economic adviser Alan Walters over Nigel Lawson, prompting the latter’s furious resignation; Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s power struggle was the stuff of Whitehall legend. Continue reading...

President says he plans to meet dictator this year but Kim Yo-jong says Washington remains Pyongyang’s enemyDonald Trump has said he is planning to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong-un later this year even as the reclusive leader’s younger sister cast doubt on their communications and dampened hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough between the two leaders.Trump, who also claimed North Korea had 57 nuclear weapons, had suggested he and Kim were holding secret negotiations on Tuesday after announcing the US would downgrade its participation in military exercises held by South Korea, a US ally. Asked whether Kim had responded to his request for a conversation, Trump said: “Yeah, he has.” Continue reading...

Discovery marks latest grim finding in lake as water levels in crucial reservoir outside Las Vegas continue to declineHuman remains have once again been discovered at Lake Mead outside Las Vegas, Nevada, marking the latest in a line of gruesome discoveries as water levels in the crucial reservoir continue to drop, authorities said.These remains were discovered on 16 August, USA Today reported. The National Park Service (NPS) told the outlet there did not appear to be anything suspicious about the body. Continue reading...