Environmentalists of all political hues must find the language and ideas that turn passion for climate action into impetus

The future of Green politics is under constant discussion after the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, but a much heavier clash – in meaning, symbolism and portent – happened earlier this summer, in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. The council declared a climate emergency in 2021, along with hundreds of others, and while it was under Conservative control. It is now controlled by independents, and a Reform UK councillor, Austen Moore, moved to scrap the declaration.

It was the end of June, and the meeting had to be called off, because of the extreme heat in the King’s Lynn council chamber. A lot of people paused to grimly remark on that irony, but not Moore, who simply rescheduled the motion for the following week, where it was voted down (by 33 to seven). A local scientist and member of Extinction Rebellion liveblogged that debate, adding helpful maps, such as how much of the county was already below the annual flood level – most of it, including King’s Lynn itself. If this all sounds like a cheerful take home, numerous other Reform-led councils have had the same debate and Reform has prevailed. Their arguments can be terrifyingly illiterate. In Kent, councillor Linden Kemkaran asserted that climate change is fine because the world was warmer in Roman times, and as “carbon dioxide … is a trace gas essential for life on Earth”, to try to cut carbon emissions would itself be dangerous.

Zoe Williams is a Guardian columnist

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Exclusive: Greater Manchester mayor Bev Craig invited City representative on trade trip organised by business secretary

A club representative from Manchester City was invited on a government-backed trade delegation to India this week, despite the club being found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League rules.

Andy Burnham’s successor as Manchester mayor Bev Craig took a representative from the club to Delhi and Mumbai on a trip organised by business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, where she and other northern mayors have been promoting British trade and tourism.

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Experts say the technology could help terrorists and nation states with production but that significant hurdles remain

In his annual speech on threats to the nation, Sir Ken McCallum, the head of the UK’s intelligence service, MI5, warned that AI has the potential to “change the stakes” on existing and even new bioweapons. Here we look at how AI might help in the development of bioweapons and the hurdles that remain.

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Michael Kotlikoff addressed his administration’s handling of the 2024 allegations as he faces calls for his resignation

Michael Kotlikoff, the president of Cornell University, has spoken to the New York Times about sexual assault allegations at the school, acknowledging for the first time that he knew a student had reported being sexually assaulted in November 2024, but did not follow up with the Jane Doe involved in the months after learning about the alleged assault.

He also revealed that he did not know she had dropped out of Cornell until she filed a lawsuit last month.

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

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Ivanti customers are being urged to update Connect Secure and check for compromise after attackers exploited a newly disclosed zero-day vulnerability. On Tuesday, Ivanti released updates for Connect Secure (ICS) to fix CVE-2026-104935, an authentication bypass flaw discovered by Volexity. Rated 8.6 on the CVSS scale, it allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands. "We are aware of exploitation in the wild affecting a limited number of customers at the time of disclosure," the vendor said in its advisory. There are limited indicators of compromise available at present, it said, advising customers to refer to Volexity's report on the findings for more information, and to run the Ivanti Integrity Checker Tool regularly. Ivanti lists affected releases in the following branches: 25.1.1.1 and earlier 25.1.2.2 and earlier 22.8R2.4 and earlier The vendor said it previously identified "a portion of this vulnerability" and patched it in July's 25.1.3.0 update, and had been working on backporting the same fix since then, however, attackers began exploiting it before that work was complete. Volexity said the attackers behind the recent intrusions were previously unknown to its researchers, but are now tracked as UTA0576. Criminal motive rather than espionage is suspected by Volexity. Based on observed post-exploitation activity, attackers appeared to be most interested in using their newfound access for credential theft, data exfiltration, log tampering, and network reconnaissance. Notably, the attackers did not deploy any malware nor execute web shells, using only the commands available to them on the ICS appliance. "Because the operation was detected and disrupted, the threat actor's ultimate objectives could not be determined," said Volexity. "However, Volexity assesses with high confidence that UTA0576's actions signaled preparation for lateral movement and a broader compromise of the victim network." The researchers also suspect that the attackers were using large language models to support their endeavors. Volexity pointed to the attackers' repeated use of the exploit channel to run commands, rather than deploying web shells, and their use of "highly specific scripts using hardcoded credentials." Ivanti disclosed one CVE, but Volexity described an attack chain involving three vulnerabilities. Tuesday's updates address the authentication bypass and remote code execution stages. The third vulnerability, which allows privilege escalation, is separate from the flaws encompassed by CVE-2026-104935. Volexity said Ivanti is aware of the additional bug and plans to publish a fix "in the coming weeks." The disclosure of the zero-day this week makes it the third year running that Ivanti has had to deal with attackers exploiting undisclosed flaws in Connect Secure. The previous ICS zero-days were disclosed in January 2025, a year after the January 2024 vulnerabilities led to exploits affecting thousands of ICS appliances. In the interim, we've also seen suspected Chinese espionage groups exploiting bugs in Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM), and critical flaws in Sentry. Ivanti's run of January zero-days continued earlier this year, although those flaws affected EPMM rather than Connect Secure. ®

It's about time: the General Conference on Weights and Measures looks set to end leap seconds in an effort to reach horological harmony. Since 1972, 27 leap seconds have been added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to keep it in step with the astronomical time scale UT1, which is based on Earth's fluctuating rotation. The proposal would increase the permitted difference between UTC and UT1 from 0.9 seconds to one hour, avoiding leap-second adjustments for centuries. Earth's rotation has also sped up in recent years, raising the possibility of a negative leap second – removing a second rather than adding one. That has never been done before. Experts have estimated a 30 percent probability that global systems will need a negative leap second by 2035 to keep the two time measures in step. That could pose problems for computer systems designed to handle added seconds but not removed ones. Many national bodies support the proposal, which is expected to pass. If approved, the change would take effect on May 20, 2027. Setnam Shemar, principal scientist at the UK's National Physical Laboratory, said the proposal would avoid the risks associated with leap seconds for centuries. "Leap seconds can be difficult to implement reliably, and if not applied correctly, they can cause differences in time across networks, potentially leading to the failure of systems such as mobile phone networks or electricity grids. These risks could increase if a negative leap second had to be implemented for the first time. "Previously, leap seconds were added to UTC to keep it within 0.9 seconds of UT1. From 20 May 2027, a difference of up to 1 hour will be allowed before intervention is needed, ensuring the continuity of UTC for several centuries or more. "The relationship between UTC and UT1 is important for some applications, such as astronomy and celestial navigation. The decision would not sever that link: UT1 will continue to be monitored, and its difference from UTC will continue to be disseminated through established international services." ®

PORTSMOUTH (ANP/AFP) - Sinds zondag zijn er zeker tien schepen aangevallen in of bij de Straat van Hormuz, blijkt uit gegevens van de Internationale Maritieme Organisatie (IMO) en de Britse scheepvaartmonitor UKMTO. Dat is een recordaantal in zo'n korte periode sinds het uitbreken van de Amerikaans-Israëlische oorlog tegen Iran.

Dinsdag werden vier schepen getroffen. Afgelopen zondag zes. Dat is het hoogste aantal aanvallen op één dag sinds het begin van het conflict. Volgens maritieme bronnen worden twee bemanningsleden vermist en zou er een containerschip zijn gezonken als gevolg van de recente aanvallen.

De scheepvaart door de belangrijke zeestraat is al maanden verstoord. Normaal gesproken is het een van de drukste routes voor de export van olie en andere grondstoffen uit de Golfstaten. Sinds het begin van oktober zijn er 23 aanvallen geregistreerd.

MILTON KEYNES (ANP) - Laurent Mekies blijft voorlopig teambaas van Red Bull in de Formule 1. De Fransman verlengde woensdag zijn contract tot en met 2031. Dat meldt het Oostenrijkse team van de Nederlandse coureur Max Verstappen.

Mekies volgde ruim een jaar geleden de Brit Christian Horner op. Horner was sinds 2005 teambaas van Red Bull en won in die periode acht wereldtitels met Sebastian Vettel en Verstappen, en zes constructeurstitels.

"Laurent heeft een cruciale rol gespeeld bij het door een belangrijke overgangsperiode leiden van het team, waarbij hij de competitieve geest en de Red Bull-principes die ons kenmerken, heeft weten te behouden", aldus de Thai Chalerm Yoovidhya en de Oostenrijker Mark Mateschitz, aandeelhouders van Red Bull. "Deze contractverlenging weerspiegelt ons vertrouwen in zijn leiderschap en ons gedeelde geloof in de langetermijnvisie van het team."

Verstappen verlengde in augustus zijn contract bij Red Bull met twee jaar tot en met 2030. Zijn Franse teamgenoot Isack Hadjar tekende vorige maand bij tot het einde van het seizoen in 2027.

ROTTERDAM (ANP) - Turner Casimir Schmidt (30) krijgt "extra spanning en extra motivatie" van de WK turnen in Ahoy. "Ik moest even wennen", zei de turner toen hij woensdagmiddag het Rotterdamse sportpaleis binnenstapte voor de podiumtraining bij het mondiale eindtoernooi.

"In de gang denk je: 'oh, Ahoy, het NK'", lachte Schmidt, die daarmee verwees naar het feit dat de Nederlandse titelstrijd altijd op dezelfde locatie plaatsvindt. "Als je dan die wedstrijdarena binnenkomt, is het heel anders. Het is een hele vette ambiance. Straks zitten er veel familie, vrienden en bekenden op de tribune. Dat geeft extra spanning, maar ook meer motivatie."

Schmidt turnt in Rotterdam zijn elfde WK en kijkt met een positief gevoel uit naar de kwalificatiewedstrijd van zaterdag. "Het was een klassieke podiumtraining vandaag, waarbij zeker niet alles vlekkeloos ging voor ons team. We hebben nu twee dagen daaraan te werken. Het zou heel mooi zijn als we 240 punten of meer kunnen scoren, maar het hangt af van de jurering en de fouten die we meenemen."

ZAANDAM (ANP) - Albert Heijn wil woensdagavond de reguliere levering van alle versproducten aan winkels hervatten. Dat meldt de supermarktketen in een update over het cybersecurityincident en de problemen waar het bedrijf al dagen mee kampt. De afgelopen dagen waren er lege schappen in een aantal vestigingen van onder meer bepaalde versproducten, zoals groenten en fruit, vanwege de IT-problemen.

Daarnaast verwacht Albert Heijn dat zijn distributiecentra vanavond weer operationeel zijn. "Afgelopen nacht en vandaag is hard gewerkt aan het weer volledig opstarten van onze distributiecentra", aldus de keten. "Dit is een mooie stap vooruit in het herstel van onze bevoorrading. We zien landelijk in toenemende mate vollere schappen."

De reguliere leveringen van houdbare producten aan winkels zijn volgens Albert Heijn dinsdagavond al volledig hervat. Wel waarschuwt de supermarktketen opnieuw dat de beschikbaarheid van producten per winkel en per productcategorie nog kan verschillen. "We blijven stap voor stap werken aan het zorgvuldig en veilig herstellen van onze systemen."

Albert Heijn heeft net als drogisterijketen Etos en slijterijketen Gall & Gall, die alle drie onderdeel zijn van Ahold Delhaize, sinds zondagmiddag te maken met het cyberincident.

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

If you’re a comedy fan, then you’ve undoubtedly heard about Shane Gillis’s controversial opening monologue on SNL last weekend, where he compared women who wear revealing clothing at the gym to “whores.” Well, there’s no need to boycott SNL, because they’ve stepped up to do the right thing: SNL has donated $1,000 to whores.

And that, folks, is how you keep your reputation as a comedy institution intact!

A representative for the beloved, long-running sketch comedy show said in a statement, “Shane Gillis’s recent jokes about whores do not represent the values of Saturday Night Live. SNL stands by whores no matter how filthy, run-through, and scabbed up they are. That is why we have decided to donate $1,000 to whores, to be distributed via $1 bills scattered around nasty-ass alleyways and drug dens throughout the city.”

The statement continued, “After picking up the wrinkled-up dollar bills out of puddles and dumpsters, the whores are free to spend the money as they wish, whether it be on slutty little outfits to wear to the gym, used needles, or cheap mascara they can use to conceal their street-worn, rough-around-the-edges appearances. One thousand dollars is what a typical cheap, dirty little whore would make in a month giving handjobs to methed-out truck drivers, and dollar bills make great little tubes for snorting drugs off of another whore’s ass as well, so this $1,000 will undoubtedly be a great boon to the whore community.”

Thank you, SNL. THIS is how you make things right.

After firing him from their cast for past racist jokes, then inviting him back as a host three times, it looks like after Shane Gillis’ recent opening monologue where he compared women wearing exercise clothing to “whores,” SNL has finally learned their lesson: The beloved sketch show has announced Shane Gillis is only welcome to host another five to six times, tops.

Boom. Sorry Shane, but it looks like misogyny has no place on the hallowed SNL stage. 

In a post to their official Facebook page, the show announced, “We are aware of the public reaction to guest host Shane Gillis’ recent opening monologue. SNL has made the difficult decision to ban Shane Gillis from hosting our show any more than five, six more times, tops. While we believe that everyone deserves an eighth or ninth chance, and there are basically no other funny comedians, actors, or musicians we can think of to host our show, Shane’s comments crossed a line that SNL will only let him cross around a dozen times total.”

Reactions in the post’s comments were mixed, with some saying that the punishment wasn’t harsh enough and that SNL should only welcome him back to host two to three times, whereas some were saying it was too harsh and they should make him a permanent cast member again but just not let him do as much sexist/racist stuff. 

Damn. If SNL went this far, you know they were NOT happy about Shane’s “whores” joke. Hats off to SNL for standing up for women like this!

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Nou daar gaat het eerste 15 miljoen van de 25 miljoen euro dit jaar toegezegd is voor "stabiliteit en wederopbouw", niet te verwarren met de 112 miljoen euro dit dit jaar per dwangsom uitgekeerd aan asielzoekers wegens een vertraagde procedure. Minister van Sjoerd "Sjoerd" Sjoerdsma van Buitenlandse Handel en Ontwikkelingssamenwerking zegt: "Na jaren van oorlog willen Syriërs niets liever dan hun leven weer opbouwen of terugkeren naar huis. Daarvoor is een dak boven je hoofd nodig, maar ook werk en perspectief op een betere toekomst. Daarom stelt Nederland nog dit jaar 15 miljoen euro beschikbaar." Kunnen de vinger er niet helemaal opleggen, maar we durven te betwijfelen of Syriërs alhier 'niets liever willen dan terugkeren', en die 25 miljoen gaan daar niet heel veel aan veranderen.

De gemeente Amsterdam en een paardenkoetshouder stonden woensdag tegenover elkaar bij de Afdeling bestuursrechtspraak van de Raad van State in Den Haag. De paardenkoetshouder hoopt zijn bedrijf voort te kunnen zetten, maar de gemeente wil af van alternatief vervoer voor toeristen in de binnenstad.

Laurent Mekies apologised to Isack Hadjar after reliability struggles limited his performance at the Singapore Grand Prix.

ajpscs has added a photo to the pool:

LIFE IN SHOTENGAI
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