Council

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the Security Council is paralyzed because some member powers violate international law. • Guterres called for the reform of the Security Council to be an "absolute priority" to ensure effective multilateral action. • This deadlock prevents the UN from taking decisive action on global conflicts and security threats due to geopolitical divides.

Sharangan Maheswaran denies message he received about NSW minister David Elliot was related to work for fugitive property developerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA former Labor councillor says he had a “common interest” with a conservative Liberal operative, but denied that a message he received about damaging the reputation of NSW Liberal minister David Elliot was related to political work for a fugitive property developer, an inquiry has heard.Sharangan Maheswaran told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday that a message sent to him by lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood claiming “We have something that will kill Elliott” did not relate to work by Greenwood’s company Beckington for Jean Nassif.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that geopolitical divides are currently preventing the UN Security Council from taking action on global crises. • Guterres called for urgent reform of the Security Council to address these divisions and improve its effectiveness. • This inaction leaves nations on the front lines of global threats, including the rapid development of artificial intelligence, without necessary international support.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed the creation of a European Security Council on Wednesday to address growing threats to peace. • The proposed council would include leaders from the EU, Britain, Norway, Ukraine, and Canada, with permanent seats for large nations like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. • This initiative aims to establish a coordinated "playbook" to defend the continent against sabotage and security risks.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the creation of a European Security Council during her annual State of the European Union address. • The proposed leaders' format would include partners such as Ukraine, the U.K., Norway, and Canada to focus on the security of the continent. • This initiative aims to address the nature and scale of security risks posed by the actions of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

• The Atlantic Council released its latest Atlas report analyzing the relationship between political freedom and economic prosperity across ten countries. • The report utilizes a thirty-year dataset covering political, economic, and legal developments to evaluate global trends. • The findings indicate that countries that democratize continue to experience greater economic growth and prosperity over time despite a global decline in democratic governance.

• The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to address rising violence in Yemen and threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shipping route. • UN agencies reported that nearly 100,000 people have been displaced since fighting intensified earlier this month, with thousands fleeing to Djibouti. • Continued insecurity threatens commercial shipping and humanitarian aid for nearly half of Yemen's 41 million people who currently need assistance.

Councillors say locals have been raising concerns about people secretly filming in change rooms, swimming pools and around schoolsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne of Sydney’s largest councils has joined the City of Brisbane and the City of Yarra to issue a ban on AI smart glasses at public pools as concerns mount over the potential for predators to exploit the new technology.On Tuesday evening, Canterbury-Bankstown voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning the tech at its pools, with its mayor, Bilal El-Hayek, describing them as “pervert glasses”. Continue reading...

Fire survivors and bereaved urge Barnet Group to ‘reconsider’ appointment of Laura Johnson, who pushed for cheaper contractorGrenfell survivors and bereaved relatives have criticised the “outrageous decision” to hire a director who oversaw cost-cutting at Grenfell Tower in a £150,000-a-year senior council housing role.Laura Johnson, the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) at the time of the 2017 Grenfell fire, has been appointed the permanent director of development and property at the Barnet Group, which manages the borough’s 13,000 council homes. Continue reading...

Operators blame lack of parking and councils bemoan lack of central regulation, as more than 3,000 badly parked bikes seizedLondon boroughs have seized at least 3,000 ebikes this year, a Guardian investigation has found, as hire companies face growing calls to stop bicycles littering streets and blocking pavements.Local authorities across the capital have seized 3,393 hazardously parked or abandoned ebikes so far this year, 23% higher than the number seized during all of 2025. Continue reading...

• The Middle East Council on Global Affairs is organizing the Hili Forum 2026 to analyze how Gulf states can improve security and economic resilience during regional instability. • The forum focuses on the unresolved U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and the lack of progress toward Arab-Israeli peace. • The Strait of Hormuz has evolved from a shipping corridor into a primary theater for geopolitical rivalry over the Gulf's security architecture.

Exclusive: London mayor accuses council of ‘breathtaking arrogance’ in ‘ignoring’ responses to a consultationSadiq Khan has criticised the “breathtaking arrogance” of Westminster council, which has kept restrictions on vertical drinking in Soho and an effective ban on new bars and pubs in the area.The mayor of London has accused the Conservative-led council of “ignoring” the responses to a consultation into its new licensing policy. The vast majority of respondents, 81%, disagreed with the council’s “cumulative impact zone” which decrees that applications for bars and pubs in the West End of London, one of Europe’s most famous nightlife districts, will be refused unless in exceptional circumstances. Eighty-four per cent said the licensing policy would be bad for business. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Booming industry of businesses profit from shortage of beds for most at-risk childrenPrincess’s story: the case that highlights scourge of illegal care provisionCouncils are paying more than £125m a year of taxpayers’ money to place vulnerable children in illegal care homes across England, an investigation has found.The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) have uncovered a booming industry of businesses profiting from a shortage of beds for the most at-risk children in Ofsted-inspected homes. Continue reading...

Mount Isa city council to auction off first of 24 homes after Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Welfare Services accrues almost $1m in unpaid debtsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA rural Queensland council is auctioning off 24 homes to recover unpaid rates, potentially forcing First Nations families into homelessness.Residents claim they were left in the dark about the debt, which stretches back years, until five months ago. Continue reading...

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson has faced criticism within party after post about Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugeeLabour has accused Reform’s Zia Yusuf of “straightforward racism” after he suggested the party’s frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection was not British.Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia and the leader of Camden council, has been tipped as an early favourite to contest the London seat for Labour after the former prime minister’s resignation. Continue reading...

Report documents use of commercial licensing for free or donation-based exercise classes in parks and on beachesAt 6am on the beach at Westgate-on-Sea in Kent, Angela Brier-Stephenson used to meet a small group of about 10 people for yoga.The class lasted 45 minutes and participants paid what they could. Continue reading...

• France, serving as the President of the Security Council for September, announced a work programme focused on addressing critical issues in Haiti, Iran, and Sudan. • The agenda was detailed by the French representative during a press conference held at the UN Headquarters. • This scheduling is significant as it coincides with the upcoming gathering of world leaders for the General Assembly.

• A top UN official addressed the Security Council on Thursday regarding Syria's ongoing transition and rebuilding efforts following more than a decade of war. • Key developments mentioned include the recent dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the United States' decision to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. • The official warned that while progress is being made, international support remains critical to tackling the country's outstanding challenges.

• UN Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher briefed the Security Council, warning that Sudan is suffering from a critical "lack of action" regarding its humanitarian crisis. • The relief effort is currently supported by ten major donors, with the United States providing nearly half of the total funding. • Other key contributors include the EU, Africa Development Bank, UK, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and Norway.

The dark lord – or someone dressed like him – said the technology would aid the empire in tracking ‘rebel scum’A man dressed as Darth Vader appeared to poke fun at San Diego officials for using Flock Safety automated license plate readers at a city council meeting this week, a stunt that comes as the company faces growing backlash linked to spying concerns.The man, whose real identity remains unknown, masqueraded on Thursday as the Star Wars villain at a San Diego public safety committee meeting. Continue reading...

• The UN Security Council received updates on Libya's deteriorating situation, characterized by a political impasse that continues to delay long-planned national elections. • Recent escalations include armed clashes and drone strikes that resulted in a major oil refinery being set ablaze, threatening critical infrastructure. • An activist warned the Council that political division and insecurity are colliding with environmental shocks, including extreme heat and water scarcity, to create a severe peace and security crisis.

• The PCI Security Standards Council is hosting its Asia-Pacific Community Meeting in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate the organization's 20th anniversary. • The gathering focuses on the evolving landscape of payment security, specifically addressing how artificial intelligence is altering the industry. • The meeting is critical as banks and merchants face emerging fraud risks driven by AI-powered threats to financial transactions.

Conservative authority says site is not safe for vulnerable people charity serves or general publicWestminster council is making it “impossible” for soup kitchens to operate by complaining about the “crowds of vulnerable people” who turn up to be fed, a charity has said.Steven Stuart, who founded Friends of Essex & London Homeless (FOELH) with his wife, Cheryl, a decade ago, said constant complaints from the council could force the soup kitchen to shut down. Continue reading...

• The UN Security Council held an open debate on Thursday to address escalating military clashes and deadly attacks in Yemen. • Recent Houthi missile strikes targeting Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping vessels have intensified regional tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict. • These developments threaten to collapse the 2022 truce between the Houthi militia and the Yemeni government, further destabilizing the region.

Vape shops in England and Wales to be subject to planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in ScotlandCouncils are to be given powers to stop betting and vape shops taking over their high streets under new plans announced by Andy Burnham.Local authorities will be able to reject new betting shops and adult gaming centres, while vape shops will be subject to planning permission under plans Downing Street says could be in place from the start of next year. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Sadiq Khan urges Westminster council to adopt ‘positive vision of economic growth’ of nightlifeSadiq Khan has ordered Westminster council to scrap a policy that would ban new pubs and bars from opening in Soho and the West End of London.This comes after the Guardian revealed the council’s new licensing policy asks pubs to stop customers from standing up while consuming beverages, which it calls “vertical drinking”. The policy is under consultation and also asks pubs to have table service rather than allowing orders at the bar. Continue reading...

• The rise of agentic AI is shifting the cybersecurity landscape from human-centric defense to a paradigm of AI vs. AI. • Traditional security frameworks are becoming obsolete because they rely on human decision-makers to investigate alerts and validate threats. • This shift matters because autonomous AI attacks significantly compress the timeline between initial detection and full exploitation, outpacing human response speeds.

Westminster council has recommended banning ‘vertical drinking’ or ordering at the bar in new draft licensing policyNo 10 has vowed to confiscate powers from local councils who try to restrict customers from standing up while drinking in pubs or ordering at the bar.It comes after the Guardian revealed on Thursday that Westminster council in central London recommended not allowing “vertical drinking” or ordering at the bar in its new draft licensing policy. Continue reading...