US
US elections 2026 live: Republicans blast their party’s midterms collapse, blaming Iran war and affordability crisis
Lucy Campbell (now); Shrai Popat, Taz Ali and Jonathan Yerushalmy (earlier)
Business
Today’s UK interest rate rise unlikely to be the last unless Iran war ends, Bank of England warns – business live
UK hit by first interest rate rise in three years, as Bank predicts inflation will approach 5% by middle of 2027
Graeme Wearden
World
Multiple planes diverted as bomb threats to commercial flights reported across Europe – live
EU transport commissioner says ‘too early’ to say if bomb threats to 19 flights are linked
Jakub Krupa
Top stories
Sport
Australian Formula One world champion Alan Jones dies aged 80
Jones, one of just two Australians to win an F1 title after his triumph for Williams in 1980, died after a short illness
Guardian sport
Business
Pound hits highest level since its crash after 2016 Brexit vote
Ten-year high shows sterling’s strength against other currencies following fall of dollar after US midterm elections
Graeme Wearden
Fashion
The 14 best jeans in the US for women over 40, according to stylists
I love jeans but struggled to style trends without feeling like a teen. Experts recommended options from Spanx, Frame, Levi’s and more
Tobey Grumet Segal
World
Russia agreed to supply Iran with 90 helicopter missile launchers
Leaked documents offer insight into Russian-Iranian military cooperation as US weighs up next steps in Iran war
Pjotr Sauer
Film
Elke Sommer obituary
Glamorous star of 1960s films best known for her role opposite Peter Sellers in A Shot in the Dark
Phil Hoad
Culture
‘A hero’s origins’: the true story of the first drag queen presidential candidate
In off-Broadway show Ms Blakk for President, Oscar-winning Moonlight writer Tarell Alvin McCraney explores a slice of under-appreciated queer history
Juan A Ramírez
Opinion
There’s a new feeling in America as kindness drives out cruelty
For a decade, good-hearted citizens witnessed horrors and insisted: ‘This is not America.’ Finally, the conversation has shifted
Margaret Sullivan
Lifestyle
The best Christmas gifts in the UK for dads, grandads, uncles and friends – tested for 2026
What do you get the man who doesn’t seem to want anything? From fiery condiments to chef’s knives, slippers to portable speakers, these ideas are sure to hit the spot
Charlie Allenby
Bomb threats on European flights: what do we know so far?
With flights across Europe disrupted this week, how concerned should you be about your travel plans?
Jakub Krupa
Russia agreed to supply Iran with 90 helicopter missile launchers
Leaked documents offer insight into Russian-Iranian military cooperation as US weighs up next steps in Iran war
Pjotr Sauer
UK and US condemn ‘cruel’ second jail term handed to Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong
Foreign Office says 10-year sentence shows city’s security law is being used to ‘target individuals for political expression’
Amy Hawkins Senior China correspondent
Protesters join street demonstrations across France on day of strike action
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Yemen’s president sacks ministers and officers in attempt to turn tide of war
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Burnham says long-awaited 10-year plan may be delayed until January – UK politics live
The document has been described as the core policy statement coming from No 10
Andrew Sparrow
UK government considers smart glasses ban over secret filming concerns
Minister hints at restriction on selling technology ‘to certain users’ amid worries over surreptitious filming of women
Nadeem Badshah
The pollsters had got it wrong on the US midterms, said Nige. That aged well
After his embarrassment of epic proportions, Farage turned up at PMQs – the last place anyone would expect to find him
John Crace
Pound hits highest level since its crash after 2016 Brexit vote
Ten-year high shows sterling’s strength against other currencies following fall of dollar after US midterm elections
Graeme Wearden
BT cuts almost 8,000 jobs amid sweeping cost-saving programme
Telecoms group reports £1.1bn pre-tax profit in six months to end of September and share price touches five-year high
Lauren Almeida
Amtrak workers’ union denounces plan to let passengers bring guns on trains: ‘Sheer lunacy’
New policy would permit passengers to take firearms to their seats in lockboxes on 1,500 trains a day across the US
Michael Sainato
Debt of poorest countries at record $9.4tn high, World Bank data shows
Heather Stewart Economic editor
Tech barons cozied up to Trump. What will they do in newly blue America?
Democrats’ success was helped by popular anger over tech, AI and the super rich – life for billionaires could become much more difficult
Blake Montgomery
Apple iPad mini A20 Pro review: the best small tablet but with a big price
All-round upgrades fit a bigger OLED screen in a smaller and lighter body with water resistance for first time
Samuel Gibbs Consumer technology editor
Elon Musk’s nearly half a billion dollars in midterms spending was a flop
The tech billionaire set spending record as he poured $446m into campaigns for failed Republican candidates
Nick Robins-Early
Australian Formula One world champion Alan Jones dies aged 80
Jones, one of just two Australians to win an F1 title after his triumph for Williams in 1980, died after a short illness
Guardian sport
The AFLW player who juggles life as a doctor and charity founder: ‘Finals is my least busy time of year’
Swans midfielder Dr Lulu Pullar, who plays her seventh final this weekend, says one of the best ways to connect to her patients is through football
Jonathan Horn
Wallabies’ pay dispute with Rugby Australia overshadows Nations Championship finale
Australia are preparing for their clash with England under a cloud with RA claiming the players’ union’s proposals ‘threaten the future of the game’
Jack Snape
Seth Meyers on the midterms ‘blue tsunami’: ‘Say hello to the shy woke voter in Texas’
Late-night hosts discussed Democrats’ runaway success, while Trump shirked responsibility for Republican losses
Guardian staff
The downfall of Russell Brand: from Big Brother and Hollywood to convicted rapist
Former comedian long traded on his extreme persona, yet many will wonder how he was allowed to act in plain sight for so long
Geraldine McKelvie
Nick Peacey obituary
Other lives: Academic in the field of special educational needs with a passion for lifelong learning in heritage and the arts
Katharine Ives
Swapping from dairy to plant-based milk, cheese and yoghurt ‘could lead to micronutrient deficiencies’
Young people and women most at risk, study finds, as researchers call for vegan products to be fortified with iodine in particular
Ian Sample Science editor
Why pharma firms are going to Earth’s orbit in search of new cancer drugs
A space capsule 300 miles above us is growing the tiny crystals of a potential cancer drug in microgravity
Linda Geddes
Nasa telescope launched in 2004 to plunge back to Earth after failed rescue mission
Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere Wednesday, burning up in the process
Edward Helmore
Fossilised red blood cells found in 115m-year-old dinosaur’s bone, say scientists
Ian Sample Science editor
Abdul El-Sayed’s victory has laid bare a truth about America’s view on Israel
In Michigan, support for Israel was a kind of political hologram. But the media often made it seem real
Peter Beinart
There’s a new feeling in America as kindness drives out cruelty
For a decade, good-hearted citizens witnessed horrors and insisted: ‘This is not America.’ Finally, the conversation has shifted
Margaret Sullivan
Gangs, gaffes and two guys named Chris: why I’m glued to the 2026 New Zealand election contest
Every three years, New Zealanders’ carefully curated ‘nice guy’ persona is put to one side
Clarke Gayford
