Appointed

• On September 2, Democrats accused a politically appointed panel of delaying decisions regarding the security detail for the Golan Heights. • In separate developments, the US president declined to provide a timeline for the end of the current war and expressed understanding toward unarmed Iranian protesters. • Political tensions rose in Israel as Winter stated he will only join Benjamin Netanyahu's government if a specific conscription law is passed first.

• An Obama-appointed federal judge criticized the Supreme Court after it refused to block the Trump administration's efforts to restrict mail-in voting. • The conflict arose on Monday when the Supreme Court paused a lower court injunction that had previously limited those voting restrictions. • Former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance highlighted the judge's remarks on Friday, describing the legal rebuke as a "satisfying slap" at the high court.

Government revises plans to tackle prison overcrowding amid pressure from MPs and victims but domestic abusers and killers could still be released earlyGood morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. The mother of PC Andrew Harper said her family are “bitterly disappointed” that her son’s killers remain eligible for early release after the government revised plans to tackle the overcrowding crisis in prisons.Following pressure from victims, MPs and frontline prison officers, rapists, child sexual abusers and groomers will be excluded from the scheme for England and Wales, the government said on Monday.It feels like we’re letting Andrew down again. We’ve been through the justice system, we thought we’d done as best as we could. Now we’re standing up to fight again … so I just feel really let down, for Andrew’s sake as well as ours. Continue reading...

• An Obama-appointed judge has blocked an executive order issued by Donald Trump intended to prevent non-citizens from registering to vote in federal elections. • The court ruled that the president exceeded his legal authority by attempting to create a federal voter registration list, as election rules typically fall under different jurisdictions. • This decision marks a significant legal setback for the administration's efforts to implement the SAVE America Act's goals through executive action.

• U.S. District Judge Denise Casper, an Obama appointee, ruled on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's plan to require proof of citizenship for voter registration is unconstitutional. • The judge determined that the U.S. Constitution does not grant the president specific powers to dictate how elections are administered, rejecting administration arguments regarding election fraud. • This ruling blocks the White House from implementing the mandate, marking a significant legal setback for the administration's efforts to restrict voter registration.

• A Netflix star expressed disappointment over the unexpected cancellation of their series. • The actor stated they were unaware of the reasons behind the cancellation, saying "Honestly, I don't know what happened." • The cancellation has significant implications for the show's fans and the actor's career, leaving many wondering about the future of similar projects.

Former deputy editor steps up to replace Lenore Taylor, who resigned in FebruaryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former deputy editor of Guardian Australia David Munk has been appointed to lead the publication, Guardian News and Media has announced.Munk spent five years as international news editor in Australia and another five as deputy editor under Lenore Taylor, who resigned in February after a decade at the helm. Continue reading...

Key part of Marc Bolland’s government advisory role will be to help disabled or depressed young people find training or jobA former chief executive of Marks & Spencer has been appointed as a government jobs adviser in its latest attempt to tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis.Marc Bolland, who oversaw the retail chain from 2010 to 2016, will lead a summit of business leaders, amid warnings that the country risks a “lost generation” without urgent intervention. Continue reading...

Mark Rutte praises ‘very frank’ talks but declines to say if president discussed potential withdrawal from allianceMark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, has said Donald Trump was “clearly disappointed” that the US’s allies had refused to join its war against Iran, following a closed-door meeting in Washington on Wednesday.Speaking to CNN after his private meeting with the US president, Rutte declined to say directly whether Trump raised his threat to withdraw from the military alliance over the Iran war, but described the exchange as a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends”. Continue reading...

Min Aung Hlaing seized control five years ago and plunged Myanmar into conflict and economic chaosMin Aung Hlaing, the military general who plunged Myanmar into conflict and economic chaos when he took power in the 2021 coup has been appointed president, months after widely condemned sham elections.Min Aung Hlaing, who is wanted by the prosecutor of the international criminal court for crimes against humanity against the Rohingya Muslim minority, was voted president by lawmakers on Friday. Myanmar’s parliament is dominated by the pro-military party, which won a landslide in one-sided elections earlier this year. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Townsville lawyer and former detective Darren Robinson’s appointment by attorney general Deb Frecklington has ‘brought back a lot of trauma’ for Indigenous communityGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland government has “opened old wounds” by appointing a former police detective who was heavily criticised for his role in events surrounding the 2004 riots on Palm Island to the state’s Legal Aid board, say First Nations community leaders and members of the legal fraternity.The Liberal National party government sacked and replaced all Labor-appointed members of the Legal Aid Queensland board last month. Continue reading...