Russian drone hits Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train near Polish border

• Hardline factions in Iran are leveraging escalating tensions with the United States to consolidate domestic power. • Holly Dagres of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy notes that rigid power centers are strengthening despite widespread Iranian belief that the state is plagued by corruption and repression.

• An Iranian commercial vessel was attacked near Qeshm Island, resulting in one death and four injuries. • An official attributed the attack to the "US terrorist enemy."

• The Vatican convened an international symposium to document systemic violence and religious persecution against faith communities in the Middle East and the Global South. • The event focused on the geopolitics of 21st-century faith and the specific patterns of violence targeting believers in these regions.

Ex-president urged party at closed-door fundraiser to create sweeping framework, from safety ‘slow-down’ to job lossesBarack Obama urged Democrats to prioritize a “public conversation” about AI management and safety in a closed-door Manhattan fundraiser last week.The comments by the former US president reportedly urged the party to create a sweeping framework for everything from a safety “slow-down” to domestic job losses and children’s wellbeing. Continue reading...

Hampshire and Isle of Wight force says it wants to speak to men in connection with anti-migrant unrest that left seven officers injuredPolice have released images of six men they would like to speak to after violent disorder in Portsmouth last week that left seven officers injured.About 200 people gathered at Eastney Marina on Sunday night after a small boat carrying asylum seekers arrived on the south coast having crossed the Channel. The activists dispersed the following day in the early hours. Continue reading...

Sheriff’s office identifies Kaegan Jude Solet, 47, as person of interest after series of stabbings in Houma leaves four deadPolice are searching for a person of interest after a series of stabbings in Houma, Louisiana, left at least four people dead and another person in critical condition in hospital.The Terrebonne parish sheriff’s office identified Kaegan Jude Solet, 47, as a person of interest, after deputies were initially called to the Ashland Drive area of Houma and located a juvenile with apparent stab wounds. Continue reading...

Country heads to the polls as latest polling shows 0.3-point gap between left and right wing blocsin StockholmHej, that’s hello in Swedish, from Stockholm, where I spent this morning eating Swedish pastry and meatballs talking to voters about the country’s prospects as they cast their votes in today’s parliamentary elections. Continue reading...

Plan to give US adults $5,000 has been greeted with incredulity across the political spectrum as well as outrageDonald Trump on Sunday doubled down on his controversial pledge to give US adults a $5,000 “dividend” if his Republican ⁠party keeps control of Congress after November’s midterm elections.The plan has been greeted with expressions of incredulity across the US political spectrum as well as outraged accusations of seeing to bribe voters. The plan – which would cost more than a trillion dollars – also comes amid huge concern over the US national debt, which topped $40tn for the first time in August.Reuters contributed to this article Continue reading...

Harborne and Delo’s cash could buy a massive head start in an election, but spending big has possible pitfalls Nigel Farage once said he could spend his £5m gift from Christopher Harborne on Ferraris if he wanted to, given its unconditional nature.With the new donations to his party from Harborne and his fellow crypto billionaire Ben Delo of £72m over the past weekend alone, Farage’s party now has nearly enough cash to buy a Reform UK branded Ferrari for a party organiser in each of Britain’s 632 constituencies (though that would certainly be a waste and a bit of a tax headache). Continue reading...

‘Red lines’ legislation would forbid defence equipment technology or services being used, includes parts for F-35 fighter jetsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCrossbench MPs including David Pocock and Sophie Scamps will put pressure on the Albanese government to ban Australian goods from being used by the Israeli military – including for F-35 fighter jets – by introducing a bill designed to force it to adhere to international obligations.The group’s “red lines” legislation, to be presented on Monday, would outlaw defence equipment, technology or services being used where they could breach Australia’s international human rights obligations. Continue reading...

The currency has now reached its highest level against the US and Australian dollars in six monthsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn the unpredictable world of global currency markets, there has been one safe bet: that the Japanese yen would continue its relentless decline.In recent weeks, that trade has started to unravel after Tokyo and Washington intervened to support the longsuffering Japanese currency. Continue reading...

Exclusive: New details underscoring depth of relationship between billionaire and party revealed in first episode of Guardian podcast The PopulistListen to the Guardian’s podcast The Populist hereGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce stayed overnight at Gina Rinehart’s $20m Brisbane mansion after fundraising events held for One Nation, Guardian Australia can reveal.On one occasion, Joyce conducted a live television interview with Channel Seven’s Sunrise program from a room that appears to be a bedroom in Rinehart’s home.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...