Tuesday briefing: How the UK’s military spending row exposes Starmer’s defence dilemma

• Catastrophic flooding across Nepal and China has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, marking one of the region's deadliest weather events. • The disaster was triggered by intense monsoon rains that caused widespread landslides and flash floods, destroying critical infrastructure and displacing thousands.

• The author argues that traditional, discreet diplomacy has been replaced by a performative and brash style of international relations. • This shift is attributed to a modern culture of short attention spans, likened to "TikTok-addled" behavior.

• Prof Michel Chossudovsky and Drago Bosnic released a video on August 31, 2026, alleging that President Trump and the Pentagon are targeting civilians globally. • The authors argue that the U.S. military has maintained an unspoken practice of routinely targeting non-combatants from World War II to the present day.

Male police officer caught on camera during 9 February protest against visit of Israeli president Isaac HerzogGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVideo footage has emerged capturing a New South Wales police officer boasting about “punching” a protester in the head “when he was down”, before the protester was charged with assaulting police.Police body-worn camera footage, which was leaked to a social media account and widely shared over the weekend, reveals a male police officer telling his colleagues during the 9 February protest at Sydney town hall against a visit by the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog: “I fucking pumped that cunt.” Continue reading...

Hong Kong flotation at $26bn by firm once valued at $100bn follows failure to list in US and UKShares in the fast-fashion brand Shein slumped by as much as 10% as the China-founded company made its long-anticipated trading debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange.The Singapore-headquartered company, once valued at almost $100bn (£74bn), went public on Tuesday pricing shares at HK$48.56, valuing the business at just over $26bn. Continue reading...

New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania just experienced their warmest-ever winters – and BoM says above-average temperatures expected to continueAustralia’s two biggest cities had their hottest and equal hottest winters on record, with three eastern states also breaking temperature records.The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) spring outlook shows above average daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to continue for much of the country, with an increased chance of unusually high maximums. Continue reading...

Average price of home rose 0.2% month on month in August to £275,465 as market awaits interest rate voteUK houses near top state secondary schools cost £40,000 more, research revealsUK house prices increased for the first time in four months in August, according to a leading index, as buyers and sellers remain in a “holding pattern” before an expected increase in interest rates later this year.The average price of a British home rose 0.2% month on month in August to £275,465, the first increase since April, according to Nationwide. Analysts had forecast a 0.1% rise in house prices. Continue reading...

Security stepped up in Pattaya before arrival of thousands of sailors and marines, whose deployment was extended due to US war in IranAuthorities in the Thai resort city of Pattaya have stepped up security as they prepare to welcome thousands of sailors and marines from the USS Abraham Lincoln after more than 270 consecutive days at sea.“About 600 officials will provide security and other necessary assistance,” the provincial governor, Narit Niramaiwong, told AFP. Continue reading...

Meteorologists release list of monikers for potential storms this season after 40,000 suggestions from publicFrom a five-year-old weather enthusiast to a beloved animated sheep – the inspiration for the list of storm names for this autumn and winter is wide and varied.Austen, Boelo and Chloe will be the first named storms of this winter, meteorologists have revealed, after more than 40,000 suggestions were submitted by the public.Austen IrelandBoelo (Boo-loh) NetherlandsChloe UKDano (Dah-noh) NetherlandsEvelyn IrelandFinn UKGwendolyn NetherlandsHeather IrelandIvy UKJade NetherlandsKilian IrelandLaoise (Lee-sha) IrelandMiriam IrelandNicola UKOlaf NetherlandsPhelim IrelandRuban UKShaun UKTheo UKVesna (Vehs-nuh) NetherlandsWende (Vhen-duh) Netherlands Continue reading...

Exclusive: Some staff call decision a betrayal of young apprentices who are often selected to increase diversityThe BBC is facing internal anger after a group of apprentices were told they could no longer expect jobs they had been promised, as a result of the corporation’s sweeping cuts programme.In a sign of the pressure the BBC is under to find savings, apprentices working with BBC News were told that “exceptional circumstances” meant the broadcaster could no longer stand by its pledge to find them permanent positions. Continue reading...

The PM wants to combat One Nation through core Labor values such as education and health, even as his popularity takes a beatingSign up for Guardian Australia’s new Politics, really newsletter hereAt the height of her 1998 re-election fight, Pauline Hanson was challenged to give her honest assessment of John Howard.Two years on from her firebrand maiden speech, the One Nation leader was contesting the Queensland seat of Blair when she was bailed up by a group of punters at a country race meeting. The men had been drinking and one demanded to know if Howard was “a prick”.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s new Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...

Prime minister will bring upbeat message to adversarial Commons after a summer of policy announcements and improved poll ratingsGood morning. Andy Burnham became prime minister six weeks ago, but today will be the first time he addresses MPs in the Commons. It will be the first time he has spoken as a minister from the dispatch box in more than 16 years. As MPs return to Westminster, they will be telling each other about how they spent the summer holiday and, for Burnham, it has undoubtedly gone well. He has unveiled a blitz of announcements which, broadly, have gone down quite well and he has delivered the kiss of life to Labour’s poll ratings.Today Burnham will chair cabinet in the morning and then make a ministerial statement in the Commons after 3.30pm. Normally a prime ministerial statement has a specific focus; it will be about a major policy decision, or a foreign affairs crisis. From the briefing that we have had so far, it sounds as if Burnham’s will be more of a wide-ranging rehash of all the things that he has been talking about this summer. In her preview, Jessica Elgot says he will talk about his intention to bring more essential services back into public control. Continue reading...